Darren Clarke admitted recently that his Open triumph will inspire him to further glory. But will a major win, have a major effect on his future? Following his Open win in Royal St. Georges last July, Darren struggled to display the form that secured him the Claret Jug. Two finishes within the top 50 in seven European Tour events between his Open win and the end of the year suggested that the mindset that was his aide in Royal St. Georges was not supporting him during these months. When we look beneath these results, we find that Darren was working especially hard with all the commitments around golf, which goes to show how much golf requires total commitment to allow one to excel. But the most interesting admission by Darren was that he aims not to be so hard on himself “My other big aim is not to be so hard on myself… I’m a perfectionist” (Peter Dixon, The Times, Monday 23rd January, 2012). Being a perfectionist, however, does not mean that a golfer has to be “hard” on himself or herself. It is the double edged sword that cuts the life out of a golfer’s goals, ambitions and confidence but also set the golfer apart from most other golfers. If a golfer is practising to get better, then that practice is to be applauded. But if a golfer is practising to avoid playing poorly or attain standards that are far removed from the reality of good golf, then that golfer is doing himself or herself a disservice. Golf is a game to be enjoyed; it ought to be seen in this light, a light that will sustain a golfer when all others are consumed by their doubs.