If winning never gets old, second place must be pretty tiring.
On Sunday in Japan, Max Greyserman tried to find out exactly what it felt like.
“I can take this in different ways,” he said. “Second place would be one thought, disappointment would be another. But on the other hand I could say that I played very well.”
He did.
Greyserman took on eventual winner
Instead, his tap-in birdie left him one shot off the lead. It was Greyserman’s fifth career runner-up finish and his second straight victory in the event. At last year’s Baycurrent, Nico Echavarria birdied two of his last three holes, trailing Greyserman by one stroke. This time, Schauffele made three of his last five birdies to deny Greyserman a chance at glory.
“A little more of the same,” Greyersman said. “I feel like I was executed. I did well. I just didn’t play well enough.”
On the plus side, Greyserman said, each of his close calls has made him more comfortable in battle.
“I think, whether it’s positive or negative, I feel like just continuing Sundays in the lead. Those are invaluable laps because what you feel on Thursday, Friday and then what you feel on Saturday, Sunday, but not near the lead, is very different from how your body feels near the lead.”
He compared the sensation to the increased heart rate and adrenaline rush that comes from running.
“It feels a lot different than just hanging out with your friends and hitting some shots,” Greyserman said.
On Sunday the jitters were impossible to ignore. But it helped that Greyserman had been there before.
“I felt good today, I felt calm,” he said. “Obviously you have nerves. I’m sure Xander had some nerves at times, highs and lows. But it felt good to experience that.”
It will feel even better when he takes the next step, which seems like only a matter of time.
“Just more of the same, playing well, doing things well and just needing some extra gear on Sunday,” Greyserman said. “That’s what I miss.”
#Pro #left #conflicting #thoughts #heartbreak