Golf: Emotions can be chief foe

By BOB PEARCE

Watch Grant Waite in action and it's easy to see why the experts insist that golf is a mental rather than physical game.

The 38-year-old Kiwi can be a walking emotional time bomb - and he's not afraid to admit it.

After carding a three-under 69 yesterday to remain in contention for the New Zealand Open at four under, Waite relived his emotions before the assembled media.

No need to prompt him. Harder to break the flow as he recounts the highs and lows of his round.

In the past he has played well, but been let down by his putting and allowed that to get to him. This time there have been plenty of good putts and he gives himself an A for his performance overall.

But there was one lapse from the temperamental calm he is seeking. For the second day in a row he failed to birdie the par-five 17th, a hole he rates as the easiest on the course.

He allowed his emotions to rule and played a poor tee shot on the next hole. Only a long putt saved his par.

"It's an emotional battle for me out on the course," he said. "I lost it for a while on 17. The putt on 18 kept my round going. I lost the battle but won the war."

After 15 years as a pro, more than a decade on the US PGA tour and with career earnings of more than US$4 million ($7.3 million), Waite remains an enigma as much to himself as to his supporters.

He had the game to win the New Zealand Open in 1992 and the Kemper Open the next year, but even during his Open win at Paraparaumu he could wrestle in the media centre with his psychological battles.

Beginning the weekend still in contention, Waite has achieved some of the goals he set himself on this visit home. By tomorrow night he may have laid some more of his demons to rest.