In the past few weeks, several professional golfers have spoken openly about their mental health. Add Canadian Alena Sharp to this group.
After a solid start at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, where she was just two strokes behind the lead after the first round 3 under 69, the Hamilton golfer spoke about her latest fear and how she managed to overcome it at one of the the largest stages in women’s golf.
“My fear was so great,” said Sharp on Thursday of her time at ANA Inspiration, the other major tournament she took part in this year. “It’s coming down. Today I could say that things are looking up again. I was in that position. My mental trainer said, (fear) raises its ugly head when you’re in the heat of the moment, and that’s important.
“It was hard to deal with today, but I fought my way through.”
Sharp was 4 under through five holes and tied for the lead at one point, but made bogeys on the sixth and ninth holes and posted a double bogey on the 13th par-4.
However, she did long birdie putts on her final two holes and ended the day in third place in a large group.
The leader who competes at the Atlanta Athletic Club on Friday is Lizette Salas, who also spoke about mental health issues she went through last year.
“I really didn’t like myself in 2020,” said Salas. “And I think with all of the COVID and not being able to work and have golf as my outlet, that hit that really hard.”
As Sharp struggled through the middle portion of her opening round, she tried to use some of the tools her two sports psychologists had suggested.
“I was just using my senses,” said Sharp. “I listened to the birds and the wind and I could really feel the ground under my feet.”
She also relied on caddy Sarah Bowman, who is also her wife, as she climbed the leaderboard.
“I said, ‘I’m getting nervous.’ I haven’t been in this position for a long time, ”said Sharp. “That was really helpful just to stay present. And that’s one of the big keys for the rest of the year, getting involved with every shot and being present. “
Sharp has missed five cuts in 11 events, and in the six games over the weekend her best result was a draw for the 31st.
Your trainer Brett Saunders is based in BC and they haven’t seen much in the past 18 months. However, with Sharp not participating in the US Women’s Open or the LPGA Match Play Championship the week before, Saunders visited her home in Phoenix for 12 days and they did what she called a “hardcore” putting session.
Sharp had the whine on the greens and was totally misaligned, she thought. But almost two weeks of exertion resulted in practicing with a specific goal.
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“I’m also gaining a little more confidence,” said Sharp. “I think putting is all about feeling and confidence, and I didn’t have either, but now they’re slowly coming back.”
Canadian Brooke Henderson did not do that well in the opening round, shooting a 2-over 74. Henderson, who won this event in 2016, was 2 under by four holes, but four bogeys came to finish the day over par.
Henderson had Sister Brittany back as her caddy. The elderly Henderson had to grapple with work permit issues after marrying an American last summer, and her papers were approved Tuesday night.
Adam Stanley is an Ottawa-based contributor for Star’s sports division and the host of Next Round’s On Me golf podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @adam_stanley
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source https://dailyhealthynews.ca/i-battled-through-hamiltons-alena-sharp-opens-up-about-mental-health-after-sizzling-start-at-womens-pga-championship/
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