| The question here is – do you play well with | | | | congruent with his behaviour. Body language is so |
| others? | | | | important in order to create rapport with those |
| Being a ‘team player’ requires a very | | | | around you. It is these skills that will demonstrate |
| different mentality than when it is you against the | | | | that you are listening and that you are fully |
| rest of the field? I do not intend for one minute | | | | engaged with your team. Caring about those |
| to suggest that Monty has more of the following | | | | around you and how they are doing is a skill that |
| skill sets than Tiger – that is for those who | | | | goes totally against the whole ‘game of |
| are close to both players who have their counsel | | | | self’ mentality required to be a championship |
| to decide. I am merely here to demonstrate what | | | | golfer. |
| is required in the attitude, behaviour and | | | | In summary, the skill set of the Captain is pivotal |
| personality of a ‘good team player’. | | | | to the success of any team, and the Ryder Cup |
| Let’s look at a few skills that make a person | | | | is no exception. So to bring together a collection |
| a good team player – | | | | of maverick minded golfers and to create a team |
| Your social skills need to be open | | | | mentality is truly a challenging task – put |
| You need to have productive relationships with | | | | simply GOLF IS NOT A TEAM SPORT. So far the |
| others | | | | Europeans seem to have that ‘whole working |
| Being a team player is all about managing your | | | | as a team’ mentality sown up – yet the |
| emotions during play (something most golfers | | | | US player’s solo track records boast a larger |
| know a lot about) and then being able to use this | | | | percentage of the world’s finest golfers. |
| skill to effectively communicate to your fellow | | | | The fact of the matter is that the Americans |
| team members (not an environment they are | | | | know a great deal about how to create a winning |
| used to) | | | | mentality because these are skills that are |
| So, does being a good team player mean being | | | | learned, encouraged and applauded from a very |
| able to read the emotions of your fellow team | | | | young age. I cannot imagine visiting an American |
| members—the good, the bad and especially the | | | | School and them cancelling sports day so as not |
| in between? | | | | to upset those children who never manage first |
| If you are someone who has spent your whole | | | | place! I am sorry if I have offended anyone with |
| life honing skills which encourage being completely | | | | that statement – but please. |
| self-focused in order to be the very best, how | | | | It is a little known fact that Tiger Woods had a |
| easy can it be to switch into a skill set that | | | | Sport’s Psychologist work with him from the |
| requires the complete opposite? In this | | | | age of 12, his name was Jay Brunza, so |
| environment do the very qualities that make a | | | | Tiger’s sense of self was worked on when it |
| golfer great come into conflict with what is being | | | | was the most important - during his formative |
| asked of him during the Ryder Cup? | | | | years. He has often been quoted as saying that |
| You now need to engage with those around you | | | | he does not need to work on his mental game, |
| – your team mates – people who for | | | | but then adds, that is because all the skills he |
| most of your professional sporting career have | | | | needed were put in place at an early age. |
| been your competitors! To suddenly be able to | | | | You may conclude from reading this that it is my |
| adapt and have an intuitive sense of others in | | | | belief that we British do not place such high |
| order to become a good team player; especially if | | | | importance on teaching our young ‘a winning |
| you do not agree with what is being said. You will | | | | mentality’ and that being second best is |
| be required to have the ability to take into | | | | something that is generally accepted as making |
| account everyone’s viewpoints in order to | | | | for a more caring mentality? A viewpoint I do not |
| make the team, the good of the collective, | | | | entirely agree with, but it is because I totally |
| stronger. Golf is often described as a ‘game | | | | empathise with the frustration of those around |
| of self’ so this is one area that is in total | | | | me when our nation’s finest sports |
| conflict with the golfer’s usual required | | | | competitors lose yet again in the world sports |
| behaviour. | | | | arena. Maybe that is why we all love the Ryder |
| As well as suddenly finding this ‘open’ and | | | | Cup so much - because one thing is for sure as |
| engaging attitude, in order for it to work | | | | we all sit down to enjoy this great golfing event |
| successfully in a team environment, the | | | | here is one sport’s event that we do truly |
| golfer’s body language needs to become | | | | excel in! |