Justin Rose’s 4 keys to playing your best golf under pressure

GOlf education is constantly evolving, but the best advice stands the test of time. In GOLF.com’s new Timeless Tips series, we highlight some of the best advice teachers and players have shared in the pages of GOLF Magazine. Today we look back at our November 2016 issue for some tips from Justin Rose on playing under pressure.

Justin Rose once again shows that age is just a number in golf. Fresh off a season that included a victory in the FedEx Cup Playoff event and a second-place finish at the Masters, the Englishman kicked off 2026 with a dominant win at the Farmers Insurance Open. The win was Rose’s 13th on the PGA Tour and moves him to No. 3 in the OWGR.

Not bad for a 45 year old.

While most golfers that age are adjusting their schedules and preparing for life on the Champions Tour, Rose refuses to slow down. Some might even argue that he is playing the best golf of his career. For someone with a resume as strong as his (US Open title, gold medal, former world No. 1), that’s saying something.

In honor of Rose’s career resurgence, we look back at the November 2016 issue of GOLF Magazine. In it, Rose shared four keys to playing your best golf under pressure.

Rose’s 4 Keys to Playing Under Pressure

“That guy has a bottle!”

That’s how we describe someone with courage in England: the man who plays great under pressure. I’ve been aiming for ‘bottle’ since the first time I laced up my spikes. Some players are naturally clutch. I had to work on it. With twenty worldwide victories, including a US Open and an Olympic gold medal, I think I’m done.

That’s right: you can learn to relax, have fun, and take great photos when it’s hot. And everyone can follow my four-step plan. So get ready: you’re about to play like an Olympic champion.

1. Build a process

My best coupling moment? Stripping a 4-iron into the 18th green on Sunday to capture the 2013 US Open. Phil Mickelson was breathing down my neck. And yes, a 4-iron is not what I would call my “go-to” club. | would have smothered that shot earlier in my career. I used to let things get to me: big crowds, the fear of making a bad shot. Older and wiser, I now only pay attention to the process.

That word is used a lot during the Tour – and for good reason. Full focus on your process, or pre-shot routine, protects your self-confidence from anxiety and bad thoughts.

If you don’t have a set pre-shot routine – from imagining the shot to selecting the right club and setting your stance – make sure you get one. Stands. Your routine is not a precursor to a shot. Think of it as part of the recording: the part over which you have complete control. And run your process at the same speed every time.

Pressure forces you to speed up, and that’s not good. How do I know I’m in a state of mind? If it takes me the same amount of time to set up a crucial drive late on Sunday – with the world watching – as it does for an easy pitch on Thursday with no one watching. Remember: your routine is a “shot” that you can hit every time.

2. Be a planner

I tend to shoot higher numbers in the afternoon than in the morning rounds. The reason? Bad routine. Sometimes I wake up too early and do nothing but stare at the clock all day, creating a hornet’s nest of nervous energy. By my start time I am emotionally exhausted.

It can happen to you too. For gold! If you’ve scheduled that afternoon snack after lunch, make sure you go about your normal business, whether it’s taking the kids to school, going to work, or going to the gym. The trick: Act normally while doing everything at a slightly slower pace, and plan your routine so you have time for a solid warm-up. Rushing through a busy day only speeds up your mind and swing, which hardly helps in high-pressure moments.

When you get on the range, avoid pre-round practice as a means of fixing your slice or suddenly perfecting that flop shot. You get too ‘in your head’. Think simple thoughts, such as, “Swing my driver as smoothly as I swing my 7 iron.”

Emphasize rhythm over mechanics: better pacing makes it easier to execute your process. If that thought doesn’t help, there’s no need to panic. Check your basics. Poor range swings are often the result of poor alignment or a problem with your grip. Take care of your basic principles, and you will succeed.

3. Find a regular ride

I’ve gotten quite a few yards off the tee over the past few seasons. Not bad for a man in his mid-thirties.

GOLF Top 100 teacher Sean Foley, my coach since 2009, taught me how to use ground reaction forces to improve my weight shifting and maximize energy transfer to the ball. Ultimately, you’ll have to work on these things like I did. In the meantime, try this: swing harder! Believe me, it makes a difference.

A faster swing helps the club reach impact, which is critical for launching high, deep and straight drives. My only warning? Do not increase speed until later in your movement or you risk falling out of the plane. Start slowly. On the final hole in Rio I knew I had to put the ball in play as Henrik Stenson lurked. I did it by slowing my swing to a snail’s pace for the first two feet and then letting her rip! A free, fast swing prevents you from ‘steering’ him.

You need confidence to gain traction.

4. Lean on your wedges

Several years ago I ranked 171st in proximity on approach shots from 75 to 100 yards. Two seasons ago I was first. I turned a weakness into a strength. Although my medal throw on the 72nd hole in Rio was only 40 yards away, it was a direct result of the work I did in the other areas of my short game.

Try this: Think of the path of your wedge swing like a dial: your hands at address and impact are 6:00; hands pointing to the target is 3:00; hands halfway back is 9am. Practice stopping your backswing at 9, 10, 11 and 12 o’clock, always accelerating the club through impact. Record the distance you travel these four shots with all your wedges. If you’re like me and have four wedges with you, you can now summon 16 different distances on command! (To adjust your distances, choke the handle up one to two inches, but nail down your backswing lengths first.)

Don’t change your rhythm or technique; let the length of your backswing and the loft of the club do the work for you. The great thing about this system? This allows you to produce the same distance in many different ways – lower, higher, more spin, less spin – depending on which club/swing combination you select. It’s that simple. I don’t know why more weekend players – or my Tour competitors – do it!

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