Quote: So can Tiger Woods who has the strongest mental game in sports go and play with a novice golfer and stay mentally focused, I think not.
I think this is a better example than you think, but in another direction. Tiger is playing the course, what another player does is irrelevant. No matter what another player does he cannot control. He must block out their action or score like ignoring bad advice or coaching. Whether they shank every ball into the hazard or breaking the course record should not affect his shot. Now he can use that shot selection to make the event more competetive if he wanted but the concentration and dedication to that strategy is what creates the benefit to Tiger. Maybe he goes for it or lays up is completely different than just whacking the sh_t out of it. Practice with purpose, Play with Purpose. Induce the stress upon yourself to perform and that will make you a better player. The goal to win is always there but just a different path. The problen comes in when you have a team that runs the score up until half time then the coach says score only on crosses. When you know the outcome with a great deal of certainty why not step up and play that way from the kickoff and really make your team show what they are made of instead of worrying about scoring 80 goals or making the team run after a game for giving up a goal. Could benefit you when you do run into a better suited opponent instead of trying to increase your national ranking.
