--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You don't win tournaments by playing well…" description: "\"You don't win tournaments by playing well and thinking poorly.\" — Lee Westwood" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/lee-westwood-17042_football_you-don-t-win-tournaments-by-playing-wel_1768520.png" --- # You don't win tournaments by playing well and thinking… ![“You don't win tournaments by playing well and thinking poorly.” quote by Lee Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/lee-westwood-17042_football_you-don-t-win-tournaments-by-playing-wel_1768520.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/lee-westwood-17042_football_you-don-t-win-tournaments-by-playing-wel_1768520.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/lee-westwood-17042_football_you-don-t-win-tournaments-by-playing-wel_1768520.png) > “You don't win tournaments by playing well and thinking poorly.” [Lee Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-westwood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success requires both skill and strategic thinking; neglecting one undermines results. **In simple terms:** Both skill and thought are essential. Key Takeaway Balance practice with planning. Themes sports strategy performance Mood motivational focused Type sports self‑help When to use this quote - tournament preparation - business competition - personal goals Key Concepts cognitive strategy skill development Questions to Reflect On - How do you prioritize thinking? - What habits improve strategic thinking? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on skill can blind strategic insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Tournaments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tournaments/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [My goal is to be competing to win tournaments that I'm playing instead of just content with making a quarter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-sock/my-goal-is-to-be-competing-to-win-tournaments-that-i-m-playing/) [Jack Sock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-sock/) > [Yeah, definitely on a mission now to compete to try to be winning these tournaments I'm playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-sock/yeah-definitely-on-a-mission-now-to-compete-to-try-to-be-winning/) [Jack Sock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-sock/) > [In any sport, you're at your best when you're playing without thinking too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-southgate/in-any-sport-you-re-at-your-best-when-you-re-playing-without-thinking/) [Gareth Southgate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-southgate/) > [Actors like to know who they are playing, what they are thinking, feeling, meaning, intending at any one time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/actors-like-to-know-who-they-are-playing-what-they-are-thinking/) [Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/) > [This is what you work for: to win tournaments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-pegula/this-is-what-you-work-for-to-win-tournaments/) [Jessica Pegula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-pegula/) > [I think to give everything I have on court is the best thing to do to win tournaments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simona-halep/i-think-to-give-everything-i-have-on-court-is-the-best-thing-to-do-to/) [Simona Halep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simona-halep/) > [I just want to do my thing and win all the tournaments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-van-gerwen/i-just-want-to-do-my-thing-and-win-all-the-tournaments/) [Michael van Gerwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-van-gerwen/) > [You can win all the tournaments you want, but the majors are what you're remembered for. It's how you're measured as a champion in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-woods/you-can-win-all-the-tournaments-you-want-but-the-majors-are-what-you/) [Tiger Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-woods/) > [We want to be the best in the world. If you want to win tournaments you've got to become that sort of team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ward-prowse/we-want-to-be-the-best-in-the-world-if-you-want-to-win-tournaments/) [James Ward-Prowse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ward-prowse/) > [My goal is to improve my game, stay healthy and be competitive. If I have that, I know I can be able to win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-nadal/my-goal-is-to-improve-my-game-stay-healthy-and-be-competitive-if-i/) [Rafael Nadal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-nadal/) > [When your friends win tournaments it is good for you in a way because it does fire you up. You see what it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-poulter/when-your-friends-win-tournaments-it-is-good-for-you-in-a-way-because/) [Ian Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-poulter/) > [You don't get the opportunity to win tournaments that often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-cantlay/you-don-t-get-the-opportunity-to-win-tournaments-that-often/) [Patrick Cantlay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-cantlay/) > [It is always in my mind still that I can crush anybody. That's not an issue. But I think that is the same for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-federer/it-is-always-in-my-mind-still-that-i-can-crush-anybody-that-s-not-an/) [Roger Federer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-federer/) > [I love the competition, and if I can continue to compete and give myself a chance to win tournaments, I'll still play out here.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-watson/i-love-the-competition-and-if-i-can-continue-to-compete-and-give/) [Tom Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-watson/) > [The only way to win tournaments is with the short game. Over half your shots out here are within 30 or 40 yards. Ballstriking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mickelson/the-only-way-to-win-tournaments-is-with-the-short-game-over-half-your/) [Phil Mickelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mickelson/) ## More by Lee Westwood > [Sometimes Americans don't quite get my sense of humor. My good ol' British sarcasm seems to go over their heads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/sometimes-americans-don-t-quite-get-my-sense-of-humor-my-good-ol/) [Lee Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-westwood/) > [Probably the best caddies are the smartest ones and the ones that are switched on mentally more than some of the others maybe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/probably-the-best-caddies-are-the-smartest-ones-and-the-ones-that-are/) [Lee Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-westwood/) > [Eighteen months ago I weighed 95kg and had a 40-inch waist. Now the waist is down to 34 inches and I weigh nearly 98kg.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/eighteen-months-ago-i-weighed-95kg-and-had-a-40-inch-waist-now-the/) [Lee Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-westwood/) > [The satisfaction you get when you finally beat your dad is amazing, that rush of adrenaline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/the-satisfaction-you-get-when-you-finally-beat-your-dad-is-amazing/) [Lee Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-westwood/) > [I've started to show the consistency in majors I had in regular tournaments back in 1998-2000 when I was contending nearly every week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/i-ve-started-to-show-the-consistency-in-majors-i-had-in-regular/) [Lee Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-westwood/) > [People mature at different stages and I feel I'm learning a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/people-mature-at-different-stages-and-i-feel-i-m-learning-a-lot/) [Lee Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-westwood/) > [Yeah, I feel good. Good about my game and my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/yeah-i-feel-good-good-about-my-game-and-my-life/) [Lee Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-westwood/) > [Golf is played between the ears and if you are not 100 percent focused on what you are trying to do, then people will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/golf-is-played-between-the-ears-and-if-you-are-not-100-percent/) [Lee Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-westwood/) > [Yes, a Major would mean so much to me but I'm a great believer that if you work hard and in the right way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/yes-a-major-would-mean-so-much-to-me-but-i-m-a-great-believer-that-if/) [Lee Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-westwood/) > [In my case what happened next in 1999 was that I fell apart over that back nine. When I saw I was in genuine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/in-my-case-what-happened-next-in-1999-was-that-i-fell-apart-over-that/) [Lee Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-westwood/) > [I'd been told there are 10 difficult holes and eight impossible ones. I'm still trying to work out which the 10 difficult holes are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/i-d-been-told-there-are-10-difficult-holes-and-eight-impossible-ones/) [Lee Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-westwood/) > [Golf is difficult to get your personality over because you are such a bottle of concentration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/golf-is-difficult-to-get-your-personality-over-because-you-are-such-a/) [Lee Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-westwood/) > [I've said before that the Ryder Cup is not the European Tour versus the American Tour. It's Europe's best golfers against the US.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/i-ve-said-before-that-the-ryder-cup-is-not-the-european-tour-versus/) [Lee Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-westwood/) > [A fantastic golf course and venue. It's one of those places that you always look forward to going back to...no matter how many times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/a-fantastic-golf-course-and-venue-it-s-one-of-those-places-that-you/) [Lee Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-westwood/) > [People confuse being world No. 1 with winning a Major championship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/people-confuse-being-world-no-1-with-winning-a-major-championship/) [Lee Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-westwood/) [Explore all 38 Lee Westwood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-westwood/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) Brendan Mundorf > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You don't win tournaments by playing well and thinking poorly.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lee Westwood" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/you-don-t-win-tournaments-by-playing-well-and-thinking-poorly/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/you-don-t-win-tournaments-by-playing-well-and-thinking-poorly/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/lee-westwood-17042_football_you-don-t-win-tournaments-by-playing-wel_1768520.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/lee-westwood-17042_football_you-don-t-win-tournaments-by-playing-wel_1768520.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/lee-westwood-17042_football_you-don-t-win-tournaments-by-playing-wel_1768520.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You don't win tournaments by playing well and thinking poorly.” — Lee Westwood", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Lee Westwood", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-westwood/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You don't win tournaments by playing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/you-don-t-win-tournaments-by-playing-well-and-thinking-poorly/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/you-don-t-win-tournaments-by-playing-well-and-thinking-poorly/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```