Decide. Commit. Swing.
What Ryan Fox—and Dr. Bob Rotella—Can Teach Us About Playing Better Golf
When Ryan Fox holed the winning putt to win the 154th Open Championship, much of the conversation afterward wasn't just about his golf.
It was about how quickly he played. Who hasn't seen an Instagram post comparing Ryan to other PGA golfers?
Fox has earned a reputation as one of the PGA Tour's fastest players. But if you watched him at Royal Birkdale, you probably noticed something else.
He never looked rushed.
He simply looked...
Decisive.
That got me thinking.
What if the lesson isn't about playing faster?
What if it's about playing with greater commitment?
Last Week's One Quick Question
Last week I asked:
When you're about 20 yards short of the green, which shot do you play most often?
The results were encouraging.
57% of you answered:
"It depends on the lie and conditions."
That's exactly how better players think.
There isn't one "correct" shot around the green. The best option depends on the lie, the firmness of the turf, how much green you have to work with and the shot you're most confident executing.
The more shots you have in your short-game toolbox, the more scoring opportunities you'll create.
Thanks to everyone who participated. Let's see what this week's question reveals.
The PGA Tour's Rabbits vs. Turtles
The PGA Tour has players who make decisions quickly.
It also has players who are famous for taking their time.
Yet both groups include winners.
So maybe scoring isn't determined by how fast you play.
Maybe it's determined by how committed you are once you've made your decision.
One Quick Question
What slows you down the most during a round?
☐ Reading putts
☐ Taking too many practice swings
☐ Choosing the right club
☐ Worrying about the shot
(We'll share the results in next week's Inside the Scoring Zone.)
The Enemy Isn't Slow Play.
It's Indecision.
Dr. Bob Rotella has spent decades helping many of golf's greatest champions perform under pressure.
One piece of advice has stood the test of time:
"Before you hit your shot, have your mind into where you want the ball to go. See and feel the shot, be totally committed to the picture... and don't change your mind as you go to hit the ball."
Notice what Dr. Rotella doesn't say.
He never says to play faster.
He never says to rush your routine.
He never says to eliminate practice swings.
He simply says:
Commit.
That's exactly what Ryan Fox appears to do so well.
Many recreational golfers do the opposite.
They stand over the ball...
"Maybe it's an 8-iron..."
"Maybe I should take one more practice swing..."
"Maybe I should aim a little farther left..."
By the time they swing, they've replaced commitment with doubt.
And doubt rarely produces great golf shots.
The same principle applies around the greens. The best wedge in the world can't make the decision for you. But once you've picked the shot, trusted your choice and committed to it, you're giving yourself the best chance to pull it off.
The Reality of Five-Hour Golf
Unfortunately, most of us don't play under Tour conditions.
Weekend rounds now commonly stretch close to five hours.
Standing on a tee waiting for the group ahead can be frustrating.
But here's something worth remembering.
You can't control the pace of the group in front of you.
You can control what you do while you're waiting.
Instead of replaying your last bad shot...
Or getting irritated...
Use that time productively.
Watch the wind.
Study your target.
Picture the trajectory.
Choose your landing spot.
By the time it's your turn, your decision is already made.
Now all you have to do is make a committed swing.
Long rounds don't have to become mentally exhausting rounds.
Build a Better Routine
Instead of trying to play faster...
Try playing with a better rhythm.
Here's a simple four-step routine that can help.
Assess
Gather the information.
Decide
Choose your club and your shot.
Commit
Trust your decision.
Swing
No more second-guessing.
No last-second changes.
Just one committed golf swing.
This Week's Scoring Challenge
During your next round, don't worry about speeding up your group.
Instead, try this.
Once you've chosen your club and visualized your shot, give yourself about 10 seconds to pull the trigger.
Not because you're rushing.
Because your decision has already been made.
You might be surprised how much more athletic—and confident—your swing feels.
Scoring Insight
Confident golf isn't fast golf.
It's committed golf.
Next Week in Inside the Scoring Zone...
Does Your 3-Wood Really Earn Its Spot in the Bag?
Nearly every golfer carries one.
But would your scores actually improve if you replaced it with another scoring club?
We'll look at the data, challenge one of golf's biggest assumptions and help you decide whether your longest fairway wood is really helping your scores.
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