PGA Tour: Joel Dahmen adopts new psychological recreation, his Bushmills reputation grows

Joel Dahmen is among the many fan favorites on the PGA Tour. His laid-back persona and humble angle make him one of the vital relatable gamers.

In 21 occasions, he has one Prime 10 and three Prime 25 finishes. Dahmen made 13-of-21 cuts. His two greatest finishes got here at the Gamers Championship and RBC Canadian Open, with a T11 and T10.

This yr has been about development for him and discovering himself.

In an unique interview with Enjoying By on the 3M Open for his Bushmills Irish Whiskey anniversary occasion, the 36-year-old spoke about altering his mindset and the way he continues to work on himself.

Photograph by Mike Mulholland/Getty Pictures

This yr, Harry Higgs opened up about altering his perspective on golf. Dahmen and Higgs are good pals on and off the course, so it got here as no shock that on the RBC Canadian Open, Dahmen adopted Higgs’ method to the psychological aspect of the sport.

“One factor I feel he [Higgs] does a extremely good job of is accepting dangerous golf pictures,” Dahmen mentioned. “I’ve to be higher at accepting golf pictures proper now after they’re not what I need them to be. I don’t need to be good once I’m not taking part in my greatest golf.”

Many followers and common gamers don’t notice that elite golfers nonetheless hit loads of common or imperfect pictures.

“Our misses are means higher than everybody else’s, and that’s why it seems high quality,” Dahmen defined. “It’s like, ‘Oh, you hit it to twenty ft.’ Yeah, however I hit just a little skinny — I did just a little of this or that. Virtually all of our pictures will not be good, and it’s understanding that’s okay, however they’re not all going to be good.”

Accepting these issues might be tough for any Tour participant.

Dahmen has a help system round him that helps take his thoughts off of the stress. His spouse, Lona, and Geno Bonnalie, his greatest pal and caddie, are two of his largest help programs.

Season 2 of “Full Swing” paints him in a darkish place, amongst different issues. Filming occurred over a yr in the past, so whereas it aired in March, these scenes weren’t latest.

Nonetheless, the episode confirmed the Scottsdale resident and Bonnalie getting susceptible with one another. That led Dahmen to elucidate how he added one other particular person to his group.

“I’m about ten months into it. I’ve gotten higher at that aspect of issues,” Dahmen famous.

In September, he began working with sports activities efficiency coach Chris Bertram within the Vancouver, British Columbia, space. He primarily works with the Canadian Snowboarding group and with particular person athletes.

“If he can get guys to do triple flips off of snowboards, he can in all probability get a man to hit a seven iron on the mind,” he mentioned. “It’s some completely different concepts — easy methods to prepare for the day, easy methods to handle your feelings just a little higher, some respiration strategies. You be taught so much about your self. You be taught what makes you tick, and that’s been enjoyable for me as a result of I’ve by no means performed that.”

Sure, he performs professionally on the PGA Tour, however spending time with these he loves is much extra vital than staying mad a few spherical that fell in need of his expectations.

Articulate

Issues like his Bushmills anniversary occasion and having his household there helped him shortly push golf apart and switch his focus elsewhere.

“I’ve my household right here this week, which helps so much. In the event that they weren’t right here, I’d in all probability go beat balls till I used to be performed being grumpy,” Dahmen mentioned. “It does assist to do that Bushmills outing, too, since you’re instantly switching off from golf mode right into a sponsorship position.

Final July, Bushmills introduced him as their Whiskey Caddie and his signature drink, “Joel’s Juicy Lie.” After his first spherical on the 3M Open, he stepped behind the bar and served his cocktail to a protracted line of followers— on his dime, too.

“They’re the primary licensed distillery ever with Irish whiskey, so it’s been a variety of enjoyable for me,” he mentioned. “Joel’s Juicy Lie has type of taken off. It’s at nearly each PGA Tour cease. The fan response and getting Bushmills on the market within the golf world has been nice.”

Dahmen took photographs, laughed and interacted with followers. He didn’t act just like the world ended as a result of he shot over par. No, the previous Washington Husky confirmed off his persona and made the followers really feel particular.

Heading into the ultimate common season match, the 36-year-old sits exterior wanting in for the FedEx Cup playoffs. He’s No. 117 within the standings and is 317 factors behind the No. 70 spot.

Lacking the reduce on the 3M Open didn’t assist his case as a result of he would want to win or end in second to get remotely near that quantity. Nonetheless, a superb end in Greensboro, NC, will assist enhance his spot within the FedEx Cup Fall portion of the schedule and get a head begin on his factors for subsequent season.

“I attempt to consider issues in such a wider margin now,” Dahmen mentioned. “That is my eighth yr on Tour. That’s a fairly good run. I wish to play for an additional seven, eight, 10 years out right here. It’d be wonderful.”

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By. For extra golf protection, observe us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You too can observe her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @golf_girl_sl.