Kim Eaton and I sit down with Michael Leonard, host of the Wicked Smart Golf Podcast, to get his take on tournament prep best practices. Kim kicks off the conversation filling us in on her own recent tournament experiences, including her win at the Colorado Senior Women’s Match Play Championship.

 

Asked how they prioritize their tournament schedule, Kim says that she always schedules her lineup, plane tickets, and hotel stays a year in advance, while Michael simply signs up for everything as soon as the application is open and has found his groove to the point where he plays around 65 tournament days a year. His top secret to energy management? “I try to get plenty of sleep!”

 

Practice-wise, Michael tries to limit swing changes a month out, focusing on practice rounds and “geeking out over Google Earth” to familiarize himself as best as he can with the course.

 

When prepping for a tournament, it’s important to figure out what yardages to play. Michael came prepared with his yardage book for Desert Highlands, which we poured over to create a tee box strategy for hole number six, including planning approach shots, getting an overview of the green, and preparing practice rounds based on the numbers gathered.

 

Finally, we talk pre-game routines. Kim’s rules are simple yet tried-and-true: get to the course an hour ahead with a bottle of Diet Coke and Slim Jims packed and ready. She does her practice shots, but doesn’t stick to any particular regiment. Michael, on the other hand, has a full pre-shot routine and doesn’t skimp on nutrition before a tournament, always bringing a cooler for protein supplements, water, and energy drinks to the course.

 

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Michael Leonard: Instagram | Podcast | Website

Kim Eaton: Instagram

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