Dave Stockton - Own Your Game: How to Use Your Mind to Play Winning Golf

A LSO BY D AVE S TOCKTON

Unconscious Putting

Unconscious Scoring

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Copyright 2014 by David Stockton

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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

Stockton, Dave.

Own your game : how to use your mind to play winning golf / Dave Stockton, Matthew Rudy.

pages cm.

ISBN 978-1-592-40851-1 (hardback)

ISBN 978-0-698-14860-4 (eBook)

1. GolfTraining. 2. GolfPsychological aspects. I. Rudy, Matthew. II. Title.

GV979.T68S82 2014

796.352019dc23

2013034051

While the author has made every effort to provide accurate telephone numbers, Internet addresses, and other contact information at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors or for changes that occur after publication. Further, the publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

Version_1

For the Stockton family, who have given me so much guidance and support over the yearsGail (above), Audrey, Cathy, Dave Jr., and Ron.

CONTENTS

C HAPTER 1

C HAPTER 2

C HAPTER 3

C HAPTER 4

C HAPTER 5

C HAPTER 6

C HAPTER 7

C HAPTER 8

C HAPTER 9

F OREWORD

I first got to know Dave Stockton during the PGA Tour season leading up to the 1991 Ryder Cup. Dave was the captain of the American team, and he spent that year familiarizing himself with the players who could potentially be on his team. He wanted to understand our likes and dislikes and to put us in the best position to play well at Kiawah Island that fall. We saw him a lot out on tour throughout the season, watching how we responded to playing with different guys and getting our feedback.

Dave was truly an all-inclusive captain. He surrounded himself with people he thought could help him, and he made winning the Cup a full team effort. When youre a captain, thats the best you can do. The players have to go out and hit the shots, but when we played with Dave, we never felt like we were alone. Hes naturally likable, and he commands respectbut he doesnt demand it, which is a totally different thing.

As captain for the 2008 matches, I came from outside the box in terms of team building and used a different approach than he did. But I asked Dave to be my assistant because I knew hed be a tremendous asset. I valued his opinion, and I knew he would tell me the truth. It was also important for an entire generation of players who might not have been familiar with Dave to be able to spend some time with him and learn from him.

The fortunate group of current players who work with Dave are getting the benefit of his expertise, experience and skill at sharing what he knows. Dave is a creative thinker, and he sees things others dont. Hes very bright and articulate, and he has his finger on the pulse of what it takes to play at the highest level. When hes working with you, he listens to what you have to say about your game, he evaluates what he sees, and he helps you find whats missing. Theres no my way or the highway with him, and no ego. He values the input of othersand thats an important instructional quality.

Dave is an example of somebody who has made the most out of what was God-given to him. He knew that mental strength was a quality required for success, and he cultivated that in himself. Dave has had a long and successful career, winning two majors on the PGA Tour and three as a senior golferand we were proud to win that 1991 Ryder Cup with him as our captain. He and his sons are making a huge impact working with tour players around the world.

But most importantly, Dave Stockton is the kind of guy who would do anything for a friendor even somebody hes never met. Dave gives his time, which is the most valuable thing we all have to give. Not many people know this, but when I was going through cancer treatments in 1994, I needed five weeks of radiation therapy in Loma Linda, California. Dave lives very close, in Redlands. He and his wife, Cathy, moved out of their beautiful house for five weeks so I could stay there with my wife and kids and get that treatment.

We couldnt be more grateful for the kindness Dave has always shown, and I love seeing the success hes having. He deserves it.

Paul Azinger

Major championship winner and 2008 Ryder Cup Captain

Bradenton, Florida

August 15, 2013

P REFACE

WHEN the Congressional Medal of Honor Society had one of its biennial meetings in Riverside, California, in the early 2000s, one of my jobs as a board member was to try to make sure our meeting guests felt welcome.

I walked over to a very nice-looking couple and introduced myself, and the man said he was Dave Stockton. I said, Wow, just like the golfer. Dave gave me a smile, and said I play golf. For the rest of the night, I introduced Dave to some of our other society members as the imposter Dave Stockton, getting a good laugh each time and making a friend in the process. Little did I know just how important Dave would become to some causes I feel very strongly about.

We all have stories of friendly people we meet at business meetings. You exchange business cards and make a vague promise to meet up down the road. You dont actually expect it to happen. But Dave asked me where I was from that night, and I told him I lived in Tampa and gave him my card. He gave me his card and said he was playing in an event near there later that year, and that hed give me a call when he was in town. Sure enough, six months later, my phone rings and its Dave.

He does what he says hes going to do.

That was the beginning of a wonderful relationship with Dave and the entire Team Stockton. With Daves help, we started the annual Medal of Honor Golf Classic, which has raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Society and various other charities. Without support from Dave and his family, there would be no tournament. Its that simple. Hes an incredible partner.

I have the utmost respect for Dave. Hes in there with you. He makes you feel like home when youre with him. Im honored to call him my close friendand its a testament to Dave that probably 800,000 people in the world feel the same.

Hes just that way.

The Honorable Ronald E. Ray

Former Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Medal of Honor Recipient, 1970

Former President, Congressional Medal of Honor Society