The cliché in matchplay is that a golfer should play the course, not his opponent, but under pressure that is not always possible. For a start, the mentality needed is different to the norm. “Golfers do not play in many matchplay events so their normal mindset is for 72 holes,” Andy Barton, a sports psychologist, said. “In the matchplay format they could be packing their bags after 18 holes so different aspects come into their thinking and the smallest of changes can make a big difference.”

Tiger Woods is a prime example of a mental giant at strokeplay events, who has struggled - relatively - at matchplay. The world No 1 has never won the World Match Play, has won only two of the nine WGC Accenture Match Play events and has particularly suffered in the Ryder Cup. This can be explained by the fact that during the Ryder Cup his preparation is taken out of his hands. He has to practise with other people and his down-time is more often than not spent at official functions.

In strokeplay the mind is concentrated on the here and now - the leaderboard is not a factor until the tournament’s final nine holes. With matchplay it is different: the golfer is more aware of the score and if he is trailing with only a few holes left he will need to take more risks.

“For elite sportsmen, imagination is a really powerful tool,” Barton said. “Golfers can rehearse a shot and vividly feel the reaction - whether it be the club connecting with the ball or the crowd cheering as the ball drops into the hole. The downside of such a vivid imagination is that the negatives can get very powerful as well.”

Preshot routine and a good caddie are vital to stave off any negativity. A player’s preshot routine will start on arrival at his ball - normally triggered by putting on a glove or when his bag touches the ground. The routine does not, however, end after the shot has been played; rather, a golfer will also have a postshot routine. Woods envisages a line ten yards in front of him and after playing his shot his routine ends only after he has walked past the imaginary line.

If things do not go to plan, there are several techniques that deal with boosting confidence. Some golfers are taught to imagine holding a blown-up balloon after they lose a hole. They then walk off the green letting the air slowly escape to relieve their tension. Others are instructed not to look down after a bad hole as that produces a negative mentality, which internalises bad feelings.

For Barton, all winners share a common characteristic: they have learnt how to come out on top. “This is seen in their ability to visualise a result,” he said. “They are able to picture outcomes in minute detail and they are always positive. Failure is not part of their thinking. Golfers who stand over a putt believing they are not going to hole it rarely do.” In matchplay, a good visualiser is most likely to succeed.

A rare weakness

Tiger Woods’s matchplay success as a junior and amateur was impressive, winning six straight USGA events. But as a senior he has found matchplay to be a great leveller. His record includes losses to Nick O’Hern (twice), Peter O’Malley and Jeff Maggert in the WGC-Accenture Match Play, Shaun Micheel in the HSBC World Match Play and Costantino Rocca in the Ryder Cup.