"Eight birdies and an eagle, Nico Colsaerts, Nico Colsaerts!"
That is what European Ryder Cup fans were chanting at Medinah after a 29 year old Belgian rookie, in his first ever Ryder Cup match, set the event alive with one of the best individual rounds in the tournament's history.
Playing alongside Lee Westwood, Nicolas Colsaerts was taking on World Number Two Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker. Eight birdies and one eagle later, Colsaerts carried his partner to a one up victory and the only point in the Friday afternoon fourballs.
I got to the 18th and thought “oh really, I made that many birdies?” When I look back at it and what I did, I think to myself that was pretty sick.
Earlier that season Colsaerts had proved his match play prowess with a surprise victory at the Volvo World Match Play Championship, where he took down the likes of Justin Rose, Brandt Snedeker and Graeme McDowell.
Ahead of this week's Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play, we asked the big hitting Belgian what his keys to match play golf are.
1) Focus On The First Six Holes
“I’ve always thought the first six holes are key in match play. It’s good to know those holes well because when you get deeper into the round and intensity increases you just react to the situation you're in and hit shots. I’ve always concentrated a little harder on those opening holes.”
2) Take On More Risks
“If you get green lights, you’ve gotta go for it. There’s probably a good five or six holes here where you could be hitting five iron or driver off the tee so the course management is very different. In match play, you tend to try a little more risk and play more aggressively.”
3) Mental Strength
“You’ve got to understand how the game evolves and what frame of mind your opponent is in. There’s more psychology involved because you are only facing one direct opponent who is there playing with you. The mental game is even more important. You might get bad bounces or your opponent holes a putt and you need to control your emotions. You have to read what’s going on with the other guy. You can concede putts and there are some mind tricks you can play, obviously keeping within the etiquette and rules of the game, but you have to show your opponent you’re there and he’s going to have go out and beat you.”
4) Ride The Momentum
“That round at Medinah was just never ending. I was just riding this wave of momentum and emotion throughout the round. I knew I had made a few but I also felt I like I’d missed a bunch but I knew the importance of staying in control of my emotions and in control of what was going on.That is crucial in match play. You might play really well in the first round and get knocked out, it’s not the same as a four round event."
5) Putting Is Crucial
"Obviously putting is crucial in either stroke play or match play golf but if you putt well you're usually going to come out on top. When I won the Volvo World Match Play in 2012 I could use my length to my advantage because the course allowed it. Here it's a little tighter and you're hitting more irons off the tee so putting will be crucial."
Colsaerts will face Grégory Bourdy in the first round this week, teeing off at 1.30pm on Thursday.
