Darren Fichardt in Little Rock: Free Up and Play Your Game

On Sunday at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock, Darren Fichardt went out with one modest goal. By the end of the day he had finished birdie, eagle and won the Simmons Bank Championship, his first PGA TOUR Champions title.

The moment

Fichardt, from South Africa, wasn't thinking about a trophy when the round started. He was trying to make the top 36 who move on to the season finale. "One of my concerns was to get into the playoffs," he said, "and through nine holes I saw I had a bit of a gap. So just tried to free up a little bit and start making a few birdies and maybe have a chance at winning."

That small shift changed his afternoon. With two holes left, Zach Johnson led by one. Fichardt hit his approach on the 17th to about 8 feet and made birdie to tie. On the par-5 18th, his second shot bounced onto the front of the green, about 10 feet away. Johnson made a nervy 10-footer for birdie and a 64 of his own, so Fichardt needed his eagle putt. He made it, shot 64, and won by one at 22 under.

"That's something fairy tales are written about," he said.

Johnson deserves a word too. He played beautifully, shot 64 and still finished second. Sometimes you do everything right and someone else does a little more. That's golf, and it's no reason to doubt your own round.

Your first-nine lesson: pick a small goal, then loosen your grip

Most beginners don't play badly because they lack skill. They play tight. Every shot feels like a test, so the arms squeeze, the swing gets short, and the ball goes nowhere you meant.

Try what Fichardt did, scaled to your first nine:

Set one small goal before you tee off. Not a score. Something like "keep it moving" or "two putts on most greens."
Once you've done it, free up. You've already won the day. Let the next swing be relaxed and smooth.
Make it physical. Before each shot, take a breath and gently loosen your hands on the club. A soft grip is a free swing.
Play your own ball. What the rest of your group shoots isn't yours to control. The next shot is all that matters.

If first-tee nerves are the tight part for you, our first-tee anxiety guide walks you through it, and our putting basics can help those 10-footers feel friendlier.

Darren Fichardt in Little Rock: Free Up and Play Your Game

The moment

Your first-nine lesson: pick a small goal, then loosen your grip

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