Afflicted with a sudden case of the yips [ˈjɪps], Doug tensed up and pulled his putt too far to the left.

yips
noun [ˈjɪps]

Yips is a plural noun that refers to a state of nervousness that affects an athlete (such as a golfer) when they're about to make an important move or play. It is almost always used in the phrase "the yips."

We’re not sure who coined yips; What we do know is that the yips have sported their name since at least the 1930s, and that the term first appeared in golf-related contexts.

English