A couple weeks ago, Jin Young Pak, one of my students, had the good fortune of living a life-long dream — she played golf with her hero. After two solid rounds at the Jamie Farr Classic on the LPGA Tour, she was paired in Saturday’s last group with Se Ri Pak.

Now, I don’t think it’s possible for westerners to comprehend just how big Se Ri Pak is in Korea. And what she has done for a generation of Korean young women who have followed her lead to the LPGA Tour. When in Korea, Se Ri must either walk around in disguise or plan on getting mobbed. In fact, her caddie and coach both need bodyguards when in Seoul because they too are famous in this golf-crazy culture. So you can imagine, when a young Korean LPGA rookie gets the chance to play with Se Ri Pak — it’s a huge deal. And especially so for Jin Young, who once waited in line for hours to get Se Ri’s autograph at a junior clinic in Korea.

Because of this situation and my closeness to it, I thought it would be interesting to talk about the dynamics that comes from playing golf with a hero. After all, we’ve all done it in some degree. Maybe not at the level of Se Ri and Jin Young — but we’ve played with our club champion, boss or some other larger than life figure — who made the round a little something extra. And with that something extra, comes a pressure that can often cause some really poor golf, which can ruin an otherwise memorable day.

So what to do when playing with a hero? I will give you the same advice I gave Jin Young the night before her round with Se Ri, which I think helped her through what could have been a very nerve-wracking experience.

First, when playing with a hero — embrace it! Usually it means you’ve done something well in life or business if you’re playing with someone you’ve admired greatly. In Jin Young’s case, she was in 2nd place at one of her first LPGA events — so this was a good thing. She needed to remember that. She was in front of 120 other girls – all heroes in their own right. So, before she played the next day with Se Ri, Jin Young needed to believe it was deserved. She didn’t win a lottery to play with Se Ri. She had worked hard for years and this was one of the perks of that hard work. So first thing — pat yourself on the back for being in that position.

Second, when playing with a hero — be yourself! I’ve seen a lot of people over the years transform personalities based on who they’re playing with. If your hero is a Lee Trevino type player — but you’re Nick Faldo type player — don’t all of a sudden become Mr. Talkative. Keep to the things you do well. And if the way you focus is different from your hero — so what — stay true to yourself. Getting out of your comfort zone is the quickest way to have a bad hero experience. When it’s your turn to hit — stick to the routine that got you there.

Third, when playing with a hero — don’t be afraid to learn. Usually another golfer is a hero because they do things you admire. Take this first hand opportunity to learn how they do the things you admire so much. This doesn’t mean playing the round as a fan instead of a fellow competitor. It just means paying attention. I’ve learned as much playing with golf pros I’ve admired as I’ve had hitting thousands and thousands of range balls. So pay attention when they’re hitting shots and managing their game. Normally what you will find is the best players keep it simple.

Fourth, when playing with a hero — engage in conversation when appropriate. Again, this is a golden opportunity to learn from your hero. When I talked to Jin Young after her round — she said Se Ri gave her some great advice. Se Ri said to work smarter not harder. That for a long career, Jin Young should learn to hit balls for 2 hours intelligently, as opposed to 5 hours aimlessly. Now, I have been telling her that for 3 years — but Se Ri’s advice was the needed confirmation. Since that round, Jin Young only talks about smart practice – not harder practice. I almost want to send Se Ri a thank you card.

And lastly, when playing with a hero — don’t set high expectations. Play your game and stick to your game plan – not theirs. You’re not there to impress them. You’re there to play golf. I remember a great lesson I learned from a hero of mine as a young pro. I was playing the mini-tours in Florida and had a great first day. I was in the last group on the second day (the last of the tournament) and paired with Doug Weaver, who at that time was the best mini-tour player in Florida. He won everything. Well, I hung in there okay — but ended up playing the last 4 holes four over par. After the round, I went up to Doug and apologized for my bad play. I told him I was sorry he had to witness that terrible display. He looked at me and smiled — then put his arm around my shoulder and said something I’ll never forget. He said – “George, I don’t care.” He said the quicker I learned no one else was worried about what I was doing — the better off I would be. He wasn’t mean about it, just honest. He said we could have a beer after the round — but when playing, he had too many other things to worry about besides my bogeys. That lesson is still one of the best of my life. So remember, your hero will not worry about your poor shots — just theirs. They’re not critiquing your swing and wondering how you got paired with them. They are playing their own game, which is one of the reasons they got to hero status to begin with.

So, next time you have the chance to play with a hero — go for it! Good luck!