Michael Hendry on golf: Timing the key to success

Michael Hendry of New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images.

Michael Hendry - one of NZ’s leading golf professionals - has a full schedule for 2015 playing in Japan, and writes from the road for the NZ Herald about life as a touring golf pro.

We all know how important timing is in sport. That crisp crack of a Kane Williamson cover drive, or that perfect spiral on a Dan Carter punt, are examples of when one's ability to move with athletic grace and rhythm culminates in sporting magic.

However it's a different type of timing in sport that I want to talk about. The ability to time your run or peak for important events has - in my opinion - been the making of many of the country's most successful sports people.

The most recent example was the summer of Grant Elliott. His hundred against Sri Lanka in the lead-up games and his match-winning innings against South Africa in the World Cup semi final were timed perfectly not only to silence any critics but to ultimately create a cult hero.

I would define my career to date as much the same, without the cult hero status of course! My timing came at the 2010 Indonesian Open - where I was able to find the run of form necessary to win and change my sporting destiny. Now as an athlete I hate that word 'destiny'. It implies that we have no control over the outcomes we seek. But what if we could control when we play our best with more precision?

Statistically professional golfers make 80% of their money in 20% of the tournaments they play. That equates to about six events a year. Obviously, and with all due respect, it's of little use if those events are at the level of the Ekatahuna Pro Am. So this year I have embarked on a completely different approach as I try to peak around certain events during the year. Rather than trying to maintain form for 12 months I have planned my schedule and identified specific tournaments that I want to use as build up events and others I want to win.

The first target was the BMW New Zealand Open. Unfortunately the best I could manage in Queenstown was a tie for 19th, not a bad week, but a disappointment not to win. The peak form came the following week at The Lawnmaster Classic in Palmerston North. At times I played some of the best golf of my life and finished 23 under par for my 5th win on the Charles Tour.

So did my plan work? In hindsight I think so, the slow and deliberate build to form for the 12th of March has seen me find the form I had hoped to, even though it was a week late.

With the start of the Japanese Tour season looming I have started another build phase, and yes I have started a week earlier. The Tour starts this week with the Token Homemate Cup, then 2 big ones in a row, The Volvo China Open and The Crowns Tournament back in Japan. Will this build up work? Only time will tell.