Some very good advice here. I think we can all suffer from this.

I like the trick of breaking the round down into manageable chunks. For instance, I like to break the last 6 holes down into 2 chunks of 3. I'll try to go 3 pars in a row, then move on to the next chunk. You can do this hole by hole, if you focus. Even shot by shot. Helps stop you getting too far ahead.

The main bit of advice I'd give would echo that just above - routine. Obviously practice will help you build a more repeatable swing, but I'd say focus on building a solid pre and post shot routine, and stick to it, no matter what. Always take the same steps before the shot, and take the same time preparing for the shot.

I think that the easiest mistake to make is to look ahead to the finish and forget that you still have the shot right in front of you. Like any other time in the round, you have to be in the moment (I hate that phrase, but it fits here), not looking toward the end. Stay in your routine, don't start taking longer than normal as that just increases tension and pressure. Don't rush the shot either. If you need to tick things off from a mental checklist then do so, but you have to keep your normal routine. This is just as true when things are going well as it is when they aren't.

I've found myself in the pursuit to break par as well. I shot a 74 4 times in 2010 and in every one of those rounds, if it weren't for one or two shots, I could've done it.

There's some great advice in this thread and I do a lot similar to what paulo does, ie, breaking my round down into smaller rounds. I like to play 3 6's. I'm a notorious bad starter, so it's not the finishing that gets me, rather the starting. It's something I'm trying to work on. I think it's easier to squander the 1st hole or two b/c we can say things like "i'm not loose yet" or "i'm not warmed up yet" hahaha. I tend to get rolling after the first couple of holes myself.

I find the worst thing I can do for my game is when I approach the shot and think about it at all. I find if I just trust my initial judgement & club selection at the bag, then just line up and hit the ball I do much better. This also goes with overthinking my swing before doing it.

Golf Digest had an article about it a few months ago. I would have to say that some of it is energy, and some of it is mental. Make sure to hydrate and eat something during the round.

Finishing good rounds!
 

Last month I was playing Ka'anapali on Maui from the Blue tees a few days after the Senior Skins Game was there. I started with a double on one, bogey on two, but then birdied 3 of the next 6 holes. Made the turn at 1 over and was 2 over through 14. I started thinking, "I am on pace for a career round on a Championship course". I really felt tried not to think about it too much, but doubled 15, par on 16. Bombed a drive on 17 and had 110 over water. Hit a 50 degree wedge fat into the water, (rarely hit it fat like that), and ended 17 with double. Ended the round shooting an dissapointing 80. In the clubhouse, I couldn't help but think the reason I finished like that was the pressure I put on myself to "finish strong". This isn't the first time this has happened to me. I guess I am wondering a few of things:

1. How do I avoid doing this?
2. Do others have problems like this?
3. Is it all mental? HAHA

1. Practice, practice ( so those shots become automatic)
2. Absolutely
3. Absolutely, although fatigue could be an issue as well

1. Don't think about golf between shots.
2. Yes! http://www.thehackersparadise.com/fo...es/biggrin.png
3. Mostly, if not even completely.

Check the tournament pressure thread - probs some good advice there. In the end it's about pressure and the mental game.

It's funny, I play well under pressure in tourneys, (for the most part). HAHA. But my biggest goal is to shoot under par and I have been very close 5 or 6 times in the past year and haven't finished a single one strong. Yet I finish strong quite often to make a average round better. I have won tourneys before, but have never shot under par, so I am openly wondering if I put too much pressure on myself to finally do it after 20 years of golf. My low round last year was 76, and I should have finished that round better too. Fatigue is and interesting thought. I am a big dude.

Its all mental. I just refuse to allow any thoughts about what I could shoot or anything negative to come into my mind while playing. I keep all thoughts 100% positive all the time. Brush off bad shots. You know they will come so when they do, I just move on quickly. You can do nothing about the shot you just hit. Think only about the great shot you are about to hit.

Great points.

You are probably too 'aware' of your goal and the end result, rather than focusing on the next part in the process. That might be why you finish so-so rounds strong as well - your "ultimate" goal is out of reach so you relax and try to make the best of the day, not thinking about what you "have to do". You're focusing on what you can do.

I know it is easier said than done, but I work on the mental part as much as I do hitting balls on the range. Have to keep it all positive.

How's the old saying go... "The last three holes of a round always adjust your score to what it really should be..." or something to that affect... (effect?)

I'd worry about avoiding fatigue (eat and hydrate throughout the round) and lack of concentration over your shots at the end. Stop thinking about the potentially good round and finish each hole as well as possible. It doesn't help to be thinking about a score that isn't real yet, or to think of ways to ruin that potentially good score.

Sounds about right!

Very good analysis. I need to employ this. I made some very loose swings at the end of that round that I rarely make. I was thinking too much. I hope that once I get over the hump, it will start coming easier.

Wow I had never heard that but its sooo true for me. I can be shooting a great round AND THEN http://www.thehackersparadise.com/fo...t-wits-end.png

Another thing that may help is to avoid tallying your score if at all possible. If you are a single digit handicapper you probably always know your relation to par but if you are a 22 or something like me and breaking 90 is a goal I would avoid tallying your score after 9. I have started to do this as a way of not putting unnecessary pressure to finish with the needed pars or whatever.

All great advice above, everyone get's that. DO NOT think of your score. I like pete's advice about not thinking about golf inbetween shots as well.