That's a terrific point, Brent.
(Off Jeff's post, maybe we could form a school: "The Brent and Peter: Average Advice for Average Golfers from Average Guys")
I find that I score worse when, if I get off to a poor start, I start telling myself that "I just don't have it today" or, worse, if I start trying to "figure out" why the opening tee shot was so bad and "compensating for it". It's then that I start doing exactly what you say, i.e. "noticing"....which is the kiss of death for me.
As in my post, when i can remember that I'm trying to get the ball in the hole in the fewest strokes, I forget about all that noticing and figuring out and compensating, and just try to make the best of the situation.
Peter