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John Maginnes
PGATOUR.com Contributor

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- I had breakfast with Dr. Richard Coop, famed sports psychologist, the morning before the first round of The Honda Classic.

Doc is a semi-retired professor from that small college in Chapel Hill, N.C. The name of the school eludes me at the moment, but Duke will be taking them down in hoops on Sunday.

John Maginnes (Condon/WireImage)

I have to admit that I was a sports psychology skeptic as a young professional. That is actually an understatement. In the neighborhood where I grew up, an intervention was your buddies showing up with a case of beer and telling you to remove your head from an unlikely orifice. But over time, I became a believer -- up to a point.

For most golfers, sports psychology would be a waste of money. I can visualize amazing things like making a lunar landing and dating a supermodel, but that doesn't mean I am capable of doing either. Perhaps I should contact NASA because the ship has most definitely sailed on that last one.

The point I am trying to make is that without highly tuned physical skills, the merits of sports psychology are lost on the student.

It was more than a decade ago that I first met with Doc on the back of the range at the Governors Club in Chapel Hill. My swing instructor at the time, Bobby White, suggested that I go see Doc.

Bobby was the perfect teacher for me from a swing perspective and remains a dear friend, but the psychological aspect of the game was not his forte. My favorite Bobby quote is: "If you don't think too good, then don't think too much."

On the PGA TOUR, every player has the ability to win on any given week. If you can find something that gives you a mental advantage, then you have the best opportunity to win. That is where guys like Doc come into play.

In a nutshell, sports psychology is the fostering of confidence. Doc always said that confidence was a choice. I argued that confidence was the result of proper preparation.

It was at this point that Doc opened my eyes to the fact that golfers practice more inefficiently than other athletes. He said a golfer could stand on the range for hours and only accomplish a half-hour of productivity.

While I agree wholeheartedly, some of my favorite memories from my years on TOUR were the conversations that I had on the range. Sure, I may have been working on something in my swing, but if one of the boys had a good story, I was the first to stop and listen.

Over time, Doc helped me to understand that my identity as a person was far greater than the total on the scorecard.

It is easy for a player to allow how he plays to determine who he is. As a player, knowing who you are helps to relieve some of the pressure.

Furthermore, it allows you to leave the game at the golf course.

Without that knowledge and the coinciding belief in myself, I don't think that I would have been able to make the transition out of professional golf with any peace.

Dr. Richard Coop helped short hitters like Corey Pavin (pictured) get the most out of their talent. (Badz/PGA TOUR/WireImage)

I have heard the old guard suggest that sports psychology is an unnecessary hoax. With students like major champions Payne Stewart, Corey Pavin and Lee Janzen, the proof is in the pudding for Doc.

I will agree that there are charlatans in the business looking to make a name for themselves. These self-promoters are interested in money and fame rather than the total well being of the individual. I am indebted to Doc for seeing in me things that I was unable to see myself.

On that first meeting at the back of the range, we were talking about the pre-shot routine. I was always a grab-and-swing player. Doc was explaining that if you repeat the same process before hitting a 7-iron on Thursday as you do on Sunday, your ability to relax and execute would be enhanced.

"Doc, are you suggesting that I do the exact same thing before every shot?" I asked.

"Yes."

"So, you want me to do the same thing over and over again and this will make me a better player?" I said.

"Exactly."

"Doc, not to be disrespectful, but do you happen to know the clinical definition of insanity?" I asked mockingly.

"Of course I do. Do they teach that at ECU?" he asked, smiling.

"Yes, it is repeating the same process over and over again expecting a different result," I said, a bit confused.

"Right, now you get it," he said, smugly.

"Now I get what?' I asked, frustrated

"To play this game for a living you have to be crazy," he explained with a laugh.

In all my years in the game, I have never heard truer words.