Elmhurst's Wilson learns how to handle PGA angst

It's amazing what a clear head can do for a golf swing.

Few know that better than Mark Wilson of Elmhurst.

For years, Wilson admittedly had way too many swing thoughts swirling in his head, was constantly tinkering with every aspect of it, and applying way too much pressure on himself when it failed.

"I've always been a searcher when it came to my swing," he admitted.

Things changed dramatically for Wilson, though, in November of 2006 when he met for a couple of days with noted sports psychologist Bob Rotella.

Since then Wilson went from averaging about $500,000 in earnings his first two years on Tour to around $1.5 million in each of the last three seasons.

"The only thing that's changed is when I came in to work with Bob," he said. "He told me to believe in my swing and just play. Now I really don't have any swing thoughts and I feel my scoring has improved because of that."

And now Wilson (42nd in FedExCup points) finds himself in the mix heading into the third leg of the playoffs, which begins Thursday morning at Dubsdread, a course he has played a half dozen times since it has been renovated.

"I have a good feel for the course," Wilson said. "I feel like I have an advantage in that part."

He has another advantage this week. With so many high-pressure, high-octane tournaments of late, including this week's BMW Championship, Wilson says the ability to sleep in his own bed this week is a huge bonus.

"This is my sixth tournament in a row and it's great to be home," he said. "I have the advantage that I'm home. Maybe I'll have some extra chores to do that I wouldn't at a hotel (laughs), but it is great to be home."

While here, Wilson and his wife Amy made a bunch of new friends Tuesday morning when they visited UIC College Prep High School as part of the "Blessings in a Backpack" program, which is designed to feed children in Title 1 public schools who qualify for the Federal Free and Reduced Meal Program and may not have any or enough food on the weekends.

"We met some great kids, gave some lessons, had a great time," Wilson said.

When he hits the course Thursday morning, he'll have a lot of his old friends on hand as he attempts to reach one of his goals: a trip to the Tour Championship and all the perks that go with it.

And if having to get some help from the WGA honcho John Kaczkowski to secure tickets for his old buddies has been any kind of pain for Wilson, he's not letting on.

"This week has been no problem," he said. "It's a good thing to have people cheering for you."