AUGUSTA, Ga. – When golf fans see professional players practicing on the driving range before beginning a round of golf in a tournament, most don’t realize the amount of work and thought the players are putting into their practice time.
That’s the subject of “Practice With a Purpose,” a feature airing on SportsCenter and other ESPN platforms this week during coverage of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
“When you and I go to the range, we don’t practice like pros do,” said Jen Chafitz, producer of the piece for ESPN Features. “We go grab a couple of clubs, hopefully the balls get airborne, and we’re ready for the first tee.”
As Chafitz learned through a series of interviews conducted with players at three tournaments earlier this year, pro players use their practice time much differently.
“A lot of pros put themselves in pressure situations when they practice, and they visualize on the range,” she said. “It might be an upcoming hole on the course they’re about to play, so they pull out their driver and visualize the first hole they’ll hit with the driver is the second hole, and it’s a dogleg left, so they know they have to draw it right to left.
“When the average golfer is on the range, do they visualize holes? You’re just hoping you don’t shank it or hit the divider between you and the next person.”
Reporter Marty Smith joined Chafitz for the feature’s final shoot at the recent Match Play tournament in Austin, Texas, and spent time on the range with players Jason Day and Dustin Johnson. “We had them take us through their practice routines, what they think, what they visualize, and basically how they practice differently than the average golfer,” she said.
The idea for the feature was hatched during a brainstorm session last summer and came from Vice President, Production, Mike McQuade, who oversees ESPN’s golf coverage.
ESPN will televise the second round of the Masters today from 3-7:30 p.m. ET. Coverage on SportsCenter and ESPN.com will continue through the weekend.
Fun piece by @espn @FlemESPN and @miamiuniversity @MiamiAlum (and former @BeyondHighSt pod guest) – https://t.co/0dRtQNRw2L – Inside the world's premier Sasquatch calling contest (yes, that's a thing)
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It’s official! Our investigation, Spartan Secrets won 1st place in the IRE awards. Proud to call @pinepaula @nicole_noren @DanMurphyESPN Dave Lubbers, Nate Hogan & so many others colleagues. Props to bosses @DwayneBrayESPN and @chris_buckle pic.twitter.com/N8fttNNan2
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https://twitter.com/GiovaniBell2/status/1116339699646443525
There are no words for what this means to our teams. Doing this reporting and sharing these stories is some of the most important work we will ever do. https://t.co/fltuoYGF2t
— Alison Overholt (@alisonoverholt) April 9, 2019
My dude @JustinTinsley delivered (as usual) on this great piece about future HOFer D. Wade. Well done, my brother. https://t.co/rcadeD2Yvw
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This is an awesome story!
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3. ESPN continues its coverage of the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship on Saturday, April 13 when defending champion Minnesota-Duluth and Massachusetts face off in the Championship on at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and on the ESPN app. Massachusetts is making its first-ever appearance in the championship.
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