Look at Phil
Judging from this past weekend’s Masters, it is clear that there is one clear characteristic of any great golfer: the ability to adapt to unexpected situations. Phil Mickelson was a perfect example in his victory on Sunday for the Green Jacket. He was able to adapt to some difficult lies due to poor tee shots, and he did so remarkably well.
While you may not need to drop a shot on the green from one hundred fifty yards when your ball is behind a tree, as Mickeslon did, there are definitely spots in a round where learning to deal with adversity will significantly help. By being confident in your stroke and your ability to get a ball up in the air or keep it lower, you will be able to look at a shot and figure out whether you can take a risk or not.
The best way to do this is to practice. With practice, you will gain a smooth and confident stroke that will give you an edge on the putting green, fairway, or in the tee box. Through the use of a great golf practice mat, or another useful golf training aid like a set of limited flight balls, this practice can even be had in the backyard.
