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Alex Elias  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@linksgems) If there’s one aspect of the game that John Bierkan, Director of Instruction at Aronimink Golf Club (Newtown Square, PA), believes club players need to focus on more, it’s short game.
“All golfers, quite candidly, but particularly club players, would definitely benefit from spending more time on their short game,” said Bierkan. “Most Tour players are really good around the green—chipping, pitching, greenside bunkers—and by club players working on that, they’re going to see better results. Shots will end up closer to the hole, which statistically improves your chances to make a putt and save Par,” said Bierkan. Although short game may edge out other areas, Bierkan added, “Maybe I’m biased, but people need to make more time to practice in general.” “If you look at any other sport or activity, people get better by taking lots of lessons or spending time practicing—piano, karate, ice hockey, learning a foreign language—but for some reason golfers think you can take one or two lessons and suddenly be cured or magically hit the ball better,” said Bierkan. “You don’t do that when you’re learning to skate or learning to play the piano. I just think for some reason people don’t equate learning or practicing golf to any other skill in life.” Bierkan’s insistence on consistent practice comes from experience. Having played Division I golf at the University of Connecticut, he’s long understood the value of putting in the time—and recent years learning hockey have only reinforced that lesson. “My first winter, with lessons in Florida, I took about 120 hours. The next winter, I took 148 hours. This winter, just this morning, was my 127th hour of hockey lessons. I’m not saying this to brag, but my point is: as a teacher and instructor, I know I’m not going to go from zero to sixty in ten hours of lessons. I want to practice what I preach,” said Bierkan. First comes the commitment to practice, then acceptance—specifically, understanding that change is uncomfortable and takes time. “If a player comes in and we’re working on something I believe will improve their ball striking or accuracy, most don’t fully commit to the swing changes because it feels weird,” said Bierkan. “If you change the way you move or do something, it will feel weird or awkward at first, but you have to put in the time and effort for it to feel normal. That way, you can trust the process. Trusting the process of getting better is extremely important,” said Bierkan.
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Alex Elias Before joining Arizona State, you were one of just five amateurs in the field at the 2018 U.S. Women's Open at Shoal Creek Golf Club. Looking back on that week, what stands out to you the most?
The U.S. Open is such a special tournament for everyone. I try to see it from a bigger perspective than just that week. As competitive as most golfers are, we all want to win, even knowing the odds are small. For me, what I gained from that week—learning to handle pressure and navigate the highs and lows—is far more important than the place I finished. Having now won four tournaments in a row, how do you handle adversity when it arises? Even during a good round, you can have three bad holes in a row and feel like, “Where am I going?” I tell myself to get back to the basics—focus on how to return to a solid score. For me, that means sticking to my routine and hitting fairways. When I do that, I can leave mistakes behind and focus on the next shot. Instead of being overly aggressive and going for pins when I’m stressed, I play so the worst outcome is a Par. It’s not about playing “safe,” but about understanding the risk and managing it. The Palmer Cup is a rare chance to experience team competition in a sport that is usually individual. How important is it for you to represent Europe—and Sweden—on such a stage? The Palmer Cup is a really fun week. In Europe, we normally play for different countries and against each other, while here we play for different schools. So playing together as a team was a new and exciting experience. I try to represent Sweden all the time, but to represent Europe and know you’re one of the best players on your continent is really special. Looking ahead, what’s one goal you’re striving to achieve in the near future? I try not to focus on earnings or the number of wins. Playing in the Solheim Cup would be a dream come true—to compete on the LPGA Tour, make that my job, and be successful. Winning a major is also one of my big goals. Alex Elias  What would you say is your biggest strength?
My best asset as a golfer, a person, and a student is managing my time. In college, you have to balance studying, practicing, and spending time with friends. Starting then, I began writing down a schedule every night before I went to bed. Tom House recently said, “Tom [Brady] and these other elite quarterbacks don't come in here to get 5% better, they come to get 1% better.” Do you take a similar approach when working on your game? If I could get 10% better in a day, I wouldn’t be on the Korn Ferry Tour. It’s about getting that fraction of a percent better every single day. I’ll play for as long as I’m improving. If I’m getting better each day, I’ll play until I’m dead. Since turning professional, what are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned from other players? I learn a lot from my peers. Guys like Brandon Wu and Max Greyserman have been doing this their entire lives, while I got into golf a little later. Being able to pick up advice on mindset, practice, and recovery is very valuable. For example, I use Normatec frequently to recover, which is something Brandon Wu does after every round. Another example is a veteran like Michael Miller, who told me he always plays his practice round Wednesday afternoon to follow a routine. Little things like that help me keep improving every day. How would you describe your mindset during tournaments? When I’m playing well, I have to stay aggressive. If I get to three or four under, I can’t stop there—I can’t start playing safe. On the other hand, if I’m not playing well, it might not be smart to go for a drivable Par-4. Knowing where your game stands that day is really important. |
