Patrick "Iceman" Cantlay may well be our modern Ben Hogan, who was also known as the "Iceman." In the last two tournaments of 2021, Cantlay took down two of the best in today's game, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm. Like David defeating Goliath, like the tortoise besting the hare, like the Trojan Horse deceiving and defeating its enemy, like a small bunch of Americans beating the mighty British army, this quiet, relatively modest driver of the golf ball defeated the longest hitters on tour (Rahm is world No. 1) for his fourth win of the year, the last being the Tour Championship at East Lake which netted "a mild-mannered reporter from The Daily Planet" 15 million bucks. How did he do it, and what can we mortals learn from this fortunate fellow?
Previously I've written about distractions when playing golf and how to overcome them. It involves staying with your own game and only your own game, with the exception of congratulating your companions on good shots. It involves maintaining the concentration and focus needed for consistantly effective and satisfying golf. Patrick Cantlay, amidst the cacophony of the crowd, the tension of a multi-hole playoff, and the high stakes at hand, stayed focused on his own game, relying on 290 yard drives in the fairway, good approach shots, top scrambling stats, and phenomenal putting to accomplish what he did. Like Hogan, Patty Ice, as he is now being called, rarely expressed any emotion while playing, letting his clubs do the talking.
I think it's a good way to play this game, for all of us. One shot after another, not reacting much to the outcome, just regrouping, recalculating, with your only reaction being how to play the next shot. Of course, we all have our particular personalities, and I'm not saying to stifle all expressions of pleasure and disgust. Just tone it down some. Restrain yourself and focus on the matter at hand. For what's at hand is playing golf. And playing decent golf requires your full attention and concentration.
Like Hogan, Cantlay has been criticized for appearing cold and remote while playing. His response to fan applause is minimal with a slight tip of his cap. He rarely smiles after a good shot. And he rarely shows anger after a bad one. Against DeChambeau, he hit a ball in the water late in the round erasing his lead but you'd never know it by looking at him. He was stone emotion-less. And, what's more, he went on to tie the match and go to win after six grueling playoff holes.
Against Rahm, he led by two heading into the last two holes and proceeded to hit an approach shot considerably right of the green in deep rough at East Lake. He flubbed his first pitch, again into deep rough, then hit his next about six knee-knocking feet from the cup. Cool as the proverbial cucumber, he sank that putt for a bogey, cutting his lead to one. But on the 18th, the Iceman calmly launched a 361 yard drive in the fairway, his longest of the tournament, reaching the green of the par 5 in two, 11 feet from the cup. Rahm missed his eagle attempt to tie, and Patrick easily two-putted for the win. Interviewed by the Golf Channel's Steve Sands, he explained, as he held the FedEx Cup, how he was able to retain his focus and concentration throughout this win and the one against DeChambeau the week before.
That's the challenge, isn't it? Whether you're playing for 15 mil or congratulations from your buds after your weekend round, somehow, at least when you've taken your address and are ready to swing, it's mostly mental from there, keeping the mind and head steady and swinging like a hawk takes to the wing. At that point in time, it's all the present moment and Zen golf.
And Patrick Cantlay, who's been through considerable emotional and physical hardship in his earlier life, has been playing that way his whole life. “He’s never going to be the guy who wants to get the attention, ever," said his long-time coach Jamie Mulligan (yes, that's his name!).
And from Patrick, himself, “I take it one shot at a time, staying in the present with my own game. The money is not what drives me to play this game. Winning golf tournaments, playing golf under pressure, and hitting quality golf shots under the gun, I mean, that's why I practice and that's why I practiced my whole life.” Somewhere, somehow, Bantam Ben Hogan is smiling.
Yep, Cantley has been really fun to watch and has become one of my favorites. In terms of the past year's accomplishments and hardships, I think Rahm is Golfer of the Year. He has been consistently excellent more than anyone else. Cantley's major record this year is kind of a puzzler, with a couple missed cuts. Don't get me wrong here, I think his future is solid and he could very well go on to become #1 in the world. But I have to see it. I love the guy's character. He is a thoughtful man.