Steve Ziegler looks at the game of golf as an opportunity to focus on confidence and positive energy.

The Westminster resident and professional golfer is putting both his mental skills and athletic skills to the test during the 2012 Santa Ana Star Casino New Mexico Open in Santa Ana, N.M.

He is facing competition from all over the country, but the Stanford University graduate isn’t fazed.

“When I go into a tournament, I’m trying to figure out the best ways to make myself feel confident on the course,” he said before the tournament. “I also focus on good nutrition and keeping a good game plan so I can play well and be confident that I can play the best golf possible.”

The Santa Ana Star Casino New Mexico Open began Sept. 17 and is scheduled to end Sept. 20. Roger Martinez, chief executive officer at Santa Ana Golf, Inc., said he was excited to have Ziegler compete in the tournament.

“This year we expect the nation’s top professional and amateur golfers to be challenged by the incredible course conditions and unmatched level of play,” he said.

As of Sept. 18, after round 1, Ziegler was in 66th place with a score of four over par.

He said he prepared for the tournament with lots of practice and visualization. He said when he does struggle during competition, he boosts his confidence by recounting all the times he’s been successful in the game. He also focuses on a balanced game, both mentally and physically.

“I try to select the weakness and work on that first, therefore I can improve and have a balanced game,” he said.

Although Ziegler hopes to succeed as a professional golfer, he also wants to give back to the community during his career. He participates in junior golf camps and is interested in golf education for children and golf-course design.

“I love golf, but I feel like it would be a waste if all I did was put good scores up on the leader board,” he said. “I remember when I received my first golf ball from a professional golfer when I was a kid; it was the coolest thing in the world. I love to see kids’ faces light up when I give them a ball. I want to carry on the tradition of what golf is all about, because there is no game like it.”