Lamborghini Ace At The ANNIKA: The Shot That Changed Everything

Brooke Matthews’ Season-Changing Moment

Brooke Matthews stepped onto the par-3 12th at The ANNIKA needing something big.

One swing later, her first-ever ace rolled into the cup… and she won a two-year Lamborghini lease on the spot.

Even better, that single shot pushed her into the CME Tour Championship, where players chase a $4M first prize. (Source: GolfChannel)

Why This Story Matters For Golf Fans

This wasn’t just an ace — it was a moment that showed how one smart swing can flip a whole season.

It brings new eyes to the LPGA and builds on the same momentum we saw in my Caitlin Clark Pelican mindset breakdown and Kai Trump ANNIKA preview at Pelican.

Behind that highlight is a simple decision process any golfer can use, the same kind of clear thinking I leaned into in why golf feels impossible and how to enjoy it again.

If you like stories where one shot changes everything, the ParTalk archive of tour stories and drills is full of lessons just like this.

But here’s what most people miss:

Matthews didn’t go for the flag. She went for the smart target — and still walked off with a Lambo.

That’s the part no one explains… and the part that can change your game fast.

Want the full breakdown of the routine, the mindset, and the exact steps you can copy on your next pressure shot — the kind of deep work I usually reserve for long-form guides like my mental golf game strategies?

This next part is for premium readers only — and it’s the good stuff.

🔐The Real Reason Matthews Hit The Shot — And How You Can Copy It:

The reality is that pressure shots feel random only when the plan is random.

Matthews had a clean, repeatable system — and you can build the same one today.

This is the same style of system I use when breaking down tour setups and drills in pieces, like the Rai–Fleetwood playoff and Rory 62 drill guide.

Below is the full blueprint for your own “Lamborghini ace” routine:

Build A Clear Target System That Works Under Pressure

When trouble creeps into a par-3 or clutch moment, most golfers shrink into fear or swing at the flag out of panic.

Matthews did neither.

Here’s the 3-step targeting plan you can steal:

Choose The Safest Big Target First
- Forget the pin.
- Pick the “fat” part of the green — where a miss still wins.
- This is your default aim point, just like I frame smart targets in my simple golf tips to play better and have fun.
Adjust One Yard At A Time
- If your stock shot shape is a fade, aim a touch left of the safe spot.
- If you draw it, aim a touch right.
- Never aim at trouble. Ever.
Trust The Safe Target, Swing With Freedom
- Once picked, don’t change your mind.
- Pressure grows when targets move. You eliminate it by locking one in.

This is exactly how pros “free up” on big moments, and it’s the same logic behind my score-blind golf approach, where you focus on the swing, not the number.

A Simple Par-3 Routine For Instant Calm

Use this on your next par-3, especially under pressure:

Stand behind the ball and breathe out slowly.
Pick one safe target — no more than 5 seconds.
One practice swing only, matching the feel you want.
Step in.
Look once at the target.
Swing.

This routine keeps your mind from spiraling.

The fewer moving parts, the steadier your swing — the same principle I leaned on in my modern golf etiquette guide, where pace and calm routines matter more than perfect moves.

How To Train Your “Pelican 12th” Shot At Home

You can make this part of your range plan and pair it with the kind of detail I use in my stop three-putting pro secrets:

Drill 1: 10-Ball Pressure Set

Choose a 140–150 yard target.
Each ball gets one full routine, no resets.
Count how many hit the green.

Goal: build consistency under fake pressure — the same way I highlight structured reps in my Bob Does Sports lessons breakdown.

Drill 2: The Safe-Side Challenge

Pick the safe half of the green.
Hit 15 shots, aiming only at that side.
This trains discipline and removes ego lines.

Drill 3: The Big-Moment Breath

Between every shot:

Exhale slowly for 3 seconds.
Say “middle” in your mind.
Step in and swing.

This sets your brain into “calm execution mode” when the stakes rise, just like I talk about shrinking stress in my piece on golf mental vacations and finding joy beyond par.

The Mental Trick That Makes Pressure Feel Smaller

Pros don’t try to “fight nerves.”

They shrink the task until it feels manageable.

Here’s the trick:

Instead of thinking “I need the perfect shot,” think “Solid contact to my safe spot.”

Your brain performs better when the goal feels achievable.

Do that three times a round and you save 3–5 shots this month.

If you care about your handicap, this mindset lines up with how I frame expectations in the ultimate guide to golf handicaps and in why no one really cares about your golf score.

Why This Routine Works

It removes fear by removing indecision.
It narrows your task to one clean swing thought.
It builds a pattern your brain trusts.
And when pressure hits, you already know what to do.

This is how Matthews hit the swing of her season.

Your Next Move

Now you have the same blueprint — not theory, but a routine you can test on your very next par-3.

Use it this week, watch how much calmer you feel over the ball, and then come back for the next breakdown. Every premium issue is built to give you this level of detail: clear stories, simple plans, better golf.

—ParTalk.com, Your Weekly Golf Buddy

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