Jun 1, 2016
DeLaet WD's from Memorial with anxiety
Graham DeLaet is taking a break from the PGA Tour to deal with some short game troubles. DeLaet announced on Twitter Wednesday that he’s been feeling “incredible anxiety” while trying to play short shots. He withdrew from the Memorial Tournament this week but promised he’d be back as soon as possible.
By Bob Weeks
Graham DeLaet is taking a break from the PGA Tour to deal with some short game troubles.
DeLaet announced on Twitter Wednesday that he’s been feeling “incredible anxiety” while trying to play short shots. He withdrew from the Memorial Tournament this week but promised he’d be back as soon as possible.
Putting and chipping have never been the strongest parts of DeLaet’s game. While he’s never had a swing coach, he has worked with noted short game coach Gabe Hjertstedt on his wedge and putter. In the early days of that relationship, DeLaet was surprised to learn how poor his fundamentals were with that part of his game.
This year, his short game stats are down. Two years ago he was ranked 105th in scrambling from 10-20 yards and 67th from inside 10 yards. This year, he’s dropped to 194th and 149th in those same categories respectively.
In the new Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green category – one of the key indicators of a player’s performance against the field – DeLaet is 188th.
So far in 2016, the Weyburn, Sask., product has two top-10 finishes and made the cut in 11 of 16 starts. He had a great chance to get his first win at the Valspar Championship in March, but his short game – especially his putter – let him down during the final round.
There’s no knowledge of just how serious this problem is or for how long he’s suffered with it. If this “anxiety” is a full-on case of the yips, as was witnessed last year with Tiger Woods, it could take some time to get back. There is no magic cure and it usually involves a combination of physical and mental repairs.
Another Canadian, Alena Sharp, battled that golfing ailment with her putter several years ago, saying she was terrified of facing a three- or four-foot putt. It took some time and work with a psychologist to get over it.
Give the straight-shooting DeLaet lots of credit, however, for admitting his woes. He didn’t mask his reason for the withdrawal behind a bad back (which would probably be a legitimate reason). Not many players would do the same.