This is the view of golf psychologist Vicki Aitken (35), who is a guest speaker at the New Zealand Sports Medicine and Science Conference which begins in Dunedin today.
Aitken played for Otago when she was a postgraduate student at the University of Otago from 1995-97.
She then spent seven years as a mental skills trainer on the European Ladies Tour and now fills a similar position at the Remuera Golf Club in Auckland.
Her major claim to fame is as author of the book Caddy Talk, the psychology of being a great golf caddy (2007).
It is the first book to give insights into the psychology of caddying and includes observations from Tiger Woods' caddy, Steve Williams.
The idea for the book developed after Aitken talked with people on the "Caddy Connect" course at St Andrews in Scotland.
"They were interested to acquiring more information because there was not much literature about the psychology of caddying," Aitken said.
The book developed quickly because Aitken had connections with Williams through New Zealand golf and top caddies in the northern hemisphere through the European Tour.
"It was a good opportunity for me to do the research and go from there," she said.
The book has made Aitken a world authority on the characteristics of the elite golf caddy.
What are the secrets of being a good caddy?
"The key facet is to build a good rapport with their player. "They must understand the player and meet their needs. They need to be a mind reader."
Aitken said Williams was the best caddy in the world because he was on the same wavelength as Woods.
"When Tiger won the Masters this year, Steve was interviewed on television and said that he had told Tiger that the distance to the next target was different to what it was because he wanted him to hit with a certain club.
"Even before he started caddying for Tiger, he was rated as one of the best caddies in the world. That is why Tiger asked him to work for him. He [Woods] wanted to be the best golfer and needed the best caddy."
The golfers she helped during her time on the European Ladies Tour had had eight tour wins around the world.
She would not give their names, as doing so would be a breach of client confidentiality.
"They were players in the top 30 on the Order of Merit," she said.
"I still keep in contact with Europe and have two players in the top 30."
How does the correct mental approach help golfers?
"You have so much time in golf and you can unravel yourself," Aitken said. Golfers spent much more time thinking about their shots than actually playing them, she said, which allowed the mental gremlins to work their mischief.
"So many golfers talk themselves out of things during that time [between shots]. They get themselves nervous and wound up, anxious and frustrated. It is just a matter of being able to deal with the down time constructively."
Aitken does not believe there is any special secret in being able to achieve this.
"It is just a lot of hard work," she said.
"It is very important to switch off between shots. You can't keep that level of energy up for four or five hours."
Aitken has returned to New Zealand "for good" but still works with players in Europe.
