Tiger slayer Nick O’Hern pens new book

By Michael Davis

IF you can say you have beaten Tiger Woods – twice – in matchplay, then there’s a chance you might know a bit about thinking your way around the golf course.

“Technique is important, but there are plenty of technically gifted golfers who can’t post a decent score,” says Nick O’Hern, in his second book: How to Play Your Best Golf (Hardie Grant RRP $27.99).

“The simplest way to shoot lower scores is by managing your way around the course in the most effective way that works for you,” O’Hern says. And you don’t have to change the physical way you play the game to improve your score. You just have to play to your strengths.

O’Hern says that like your signature, everyone’s golf swing and putting stroke are their own. Of course there are certain fundamentals to follow. But he does not give players technical advice in this book. 

“I won’t tell people what position to be in at the top of their backswing. I prefer to point out how playing to strengths can result in a better score.”

In How to Play Your Best Golf, he reveals all the tactics golfers can use to score, from course strategy and club selection to pre-game preparation and harnessing the power of the mindset.

O’Hern was based on the US PGA Tour for most of his career after honing his craft in Australia and Europe. He played for Australia in two World Cups and two Presidents Cups. Those two memorable victories over Tiger Woods came in the World Match Play Championship. 

O’Hern says he decided to write his first book, Tour Mentality, six years ago after he finished up on the PGA Tour. It was self-published through Amazon.

“It was very stressful but an enjoyable experience,” he said.

“It was all about the mental side of the game. This one is about strategies to play to your strengths and get better results. 

“I wrote the first one while I was still in the US but had stopped playing. This one I wrote during Covid lockdown.”

Originally from Perth, O’Hern has called Melbourne home for the past three years. He lives there with his wife, Alana, and their two teenage daughters aged 18 and 16.

“I would like to have won a few more tournaments and I miss the competitive side of playing on the tour,” he said. 

Among the things he does not miss are being away from his family and the pressure of having to perform to make sure you played the next week.

“I am back to where I started in golf (teaching and mentoring). That’s not to say I won’t play a few events on the seniors’ tours in the future. But I am very happy doing what I’m doing at the moment.”

The book can be purchased at www.booktopia.com.au or major bookstores.