Choke on Small Putts? Relax, Mayo Clinic Is Working on It

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ^ | February 19, 2003 | RICHARD TURNER and PAUL GLADER

[SJackson]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- What bothered Bruce Bilton the most after he came down with the yips was when people would say, "It's all in your head -- just relax."

This was small consolation for Mr. Bilton. He had been a skilled golfer for years, and now he could barely put the ball in the hole. Crouched over a three-foot putt, especially in a high-pressure situation, he would find his hands jerking spasmodically. "All of a sudden, I couldn't bring the club forward under my control," he says. He was a victim of the yips, a dreaded affliction shared, at various times, by legendary golfers including Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead. It has destroyed many careers.

[eureka!]

Interesting. I'm a big time yipper. Thanks for the post...

[anatolfz]

Choking on small putz?

[eureka!]

No Monica jokes, please. ;^)