The Fear Has It

Don't know for sure whether it was Dave Marr or Mark Lye who said it, since there were no faces on the screen, but we think it was Mark.

"A little bit of fear in there doesn't hurt when you are in the lead."

A remark concerning Jay Haas facing a shot after he had gained the lead in final round of the event today.

What kind of "fear" would you consider that? Or is that just one more glib, meaningless remark from a commentator? If a player has the lead and he is fearful, how long would you expect him to hold the lead?

If what Mark(?) meant was akin to butterflies, that's not fear. That's one of the manifestations of anxiety. If that is what Mark(?) meant, he is mistaken - it certainly has the potential to hurt, so his "doesn't hurt" is like saying it doesn't hurt to hit one out of bounds.

Anxiety will wreck anybody's train and tour players are not immune. This is but one more example of the loose lips of broadcasters, capable of sinking player's ships, since a lot of listeners will take that "doesn't hurt" to heart and assume that it's a good thing. Well, it isn't - so learn to manage your anxiety, since you will have some. That much is true.