As I once learned, being an absurd underdog certainly can help.
My junior year of high school. I had a match against the #2 player in the state.
I never worried; no one expected me to fare between than a 3 and 2 loss.
We tied.
Of great help: my opponent was 1 up going into 18.
I felt great; I wasn't going to get crucified; coach'd pat me on the back.
I calmly posted a two-putt bogey on the absurdly difficult, uphill,
into the wind, damp fairway, sea level, 555 yard par 5 18th.
It played at least 620, and with balata balls
and persimmon woods.
He knocked one ob on his second shot on 18.
Missed the green.
Anyway, we ended up tied for 18.
(Oregon didn't have extra holes for regular season mathes.)
If I had been one up, I might've choked on that last hole.
So, no team will expect to beat us in match play.
(Except Wake Forest, who likely will fear that their luck is over.)
We'll need to be very good.
My junior year of high school. I had a match against the #2 player in the state.
I never worried; no one expected me to fare between than a 3 and 2 loss.
We tied.
Of great help: my opponent was 1 up going into 18.
I felt great; I wasn't going to get crucified; coach'd pat me on the back.
I calmly posted a two-putt bogey on the absurdly difficult, uphill,
into the wind, damp fairway, sea level, 555 yard par 5 18th.
It played at least 620, and with balata balls
and persimmon woods.
He knocked one ob on his second shot on 18.
Missed the green.
Anyway, we ended up tied for 18.
(Oregon didn't have extra holes for regular season mathes.)
If I had been one up, I might've choked on that last hole.
So, no team will expect to beat us in match play.
(Except Wake Forest, who likely will fear that their luck is over.)
We'll need to be very good.