Something I’ve noticed that seems to really trigger golf fans is players not openly celebrating a victory.
After all, don’t the pros love to regularly tell us all how hard it is to “win out here”? So when that happens, why not let out a little fist pump or even show us all those pearly whites? This is a big moment, you should be going crazy.
Most people would say that. But I wouldn’t.
I’d say it’s up to the player how they react once the all-important putt drops. I believe that a lot of fans and pundits confuse the immediate reaction to winning with the level of emotion going on inside.
Tiger Woods (left) and Ludvig Aberg smile during the 2025 Genesis Invitational trophy presentation
(Image credit: Getty Images)
In all likelihood – and I’m certainly no psychologist – I’d suggest some people are just better at keeping their emotions in check than others. A lack of beaming smile does not mean a player doesn’t care.
Look at Cameron Young recently after winning The Players. It’s undoubtedly one of the biggest tournaments in the world and he reacted as if he’d won a casual game of cards or something.
People were confused. This is the guy’s biggest career moment and we’re not seeing anything in way of histrionics? Did he even care? Of course he did!
Speaking afterwards, Young said: “I think honestly, I think if you asked my wife, she would say he’s a very, very happy person. And I am. I mean, I love my life, I love my family, I love my job. I couldn’t ask for much more. I’m healthy. I have healthy little children.
“So I just think it’s more for me about I think that’s the best way for me to play the best. Now why am I not happy? I am (laughing). I don’t know.
“I’m thinking to answer questions and my brain is very tired after playing that golf course for four days. So it takes a lot for me to come up with a reasonable answer.
“But yeah, I don’t know. I think just generally you’re not going to get a ton out of me, but it doesn’t mean that I’m not, you know,…
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