Interesting Insights from Rory Mcllroy's Psych Doc

lfigueroa

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Post Masters win, Bob Rotella, Rory's psych counselor had this to say -- just transpose pool where the word golf is...

"A former professor of sports psychology at the University of Virginia who has counseled golfers for more than four decades, Rotella said Tuesday that part of his strategy for improving their mental approach is to instill some helpful perspective.
“We begin with the idea that golf — by design — is a game of mistakes, and if you love the game of golf, you have to love that it’s a game of mistakes,” he said. “You remind them that other players are playing the same game, so they’re all going to make a lot of mistakes. The second part is because you are a human being, you’re going to make mistakes that you can’t believe you made, and you have to accept that.”

Lou Figueroa
 
Post Masters win, Bob Rotella, Rory's psych counselor had this to say -- just transpose pool where the word golf is...

"A former professor of sports psychology at the University of Virginia who has counseled golfers for more than four decades, Rotella said Tuesday that part of his strategy for improving their mental approach is to instill some helpful perspective.
“We begin with the idea that golf — by design — is a game of mistakes, and if you love the game of golf, you have to love that it’s a game of mistakes,” he said. “You remind them that other players are playing the same game, so they’re all going to make a lot of mistakes. The second part is because you are a human being, you’re going to make mistakes that you can’t believe you made, and you have to accept that.”

Lou Figueroa
Well, I don't think I would hire Rotella as a psych counselor. I can only imagine his talk with McIlroy went something like, "Look, try to give it away. Miss as many short putts as you can. You really don't want this."
 
so he writes psych books and does therapy with millionaire golfers?

sounds like kindergarten level pick me up speak, i hear more profound insights from the guy at the deli
You (and WildWing) haven't read any of his stuff? I seriously thought everybody who plays something like pool or golf had.
 
I guess Tiger Woods never needed Jay Brunza.

If anyone thinks Jack never worked with Bob Rotella - well you would be wrong.
 
No, we rely on talent and experience, not psych coaching. So did Jack Nicklaus, who has the record 18 major championships. Champions don't need psych coaching.
That is probably best. But a lot of guys with talent and experience have worked with Rotella or similar and won majors. Tiger probably got his mental stuff done before getting on tour, but the fact he worked with people on it has been discussed. Nicklaus was great in the mental game, but not many are at his level with or without training, so probably not the one to use as an example.
 
I guess Tiger Woods never needed Jay Brunza.

If anyone thinks Jack never worked with Bob Rotella - well you would be wrong.
I googled it after the post on Nicklaus. I don't think he did. But he is pretty unique in his mental abilities
 
That is probably best. But a lot of guys with talent and experience have worked with Rotella or similar and won majors. Tiger probably got his mental stuff done before getting on tour, but the fact he worked with people on it has been discussed. Nicklaus was great in the mental game, but not many are at his level with or without training, so probably not the one to use as an example.
Nicklaus occasionally relied on Jack Grout for advice, but didn't really need it. Nobody else, other than short pitching. Nicklaus did get some advice from Phil Rodgers on that. But he didn't need psych coaching.
 
I can't remember where I read it, maybe it was a Phil Cappelle book or a Bob Jewett post. But someone once described pool as a "game of minimizing errors" and this post reminds of that.
 
No, we rely on talent and experience, not psych coaching. So did Jack Nicklaus, who has the record 18 major championships. Champions don't need psych coaching.
This reminds me of this gem from the immortal Lee "Buck" Trevino.

When asked why he never had a swing coach? Trevino replied, "I never found one who could beat me."
😉

That being said, if Rotella provided something that McIlroy found useful, more power to him. Different strokes for different folks.
😎
 
This reminds me of this gem from the immortal Lee "Buck" Trevino.

When asked why he never had a swing coach? Trevino replied, "I never found one who could beat me."
😉

That being said, if Rotella provided something that McIlroy found useful, more power to him. Different strokes for different folks.
😎
To have a coach in anything is a crutch. Since it's golf, who was Sam Snead's coach? Nobody. Who was Byron Nelson's coach? Nobody. Who was Ben Hogan's coach? Nobody. Who was Gene Sarazen's coach? Nobody.

Don't be a girly man coach lover.
 
To have a coach in anything is a crutch.

Don't be a girly man coach lover.
IMG_0285.jpeg
 
everybody needs coaching and trainers and advice and criticism and praise

the Bob Rotella quotes above sound like
he got them from a cereal box or a fortune cookie

but if he helps people, great

Rory makes on the average over $5M a year
 
To have a coach in anything is a crutch. Since it's golf, who was Sam Snead's coach? Nobody. Who was Byron Nelson's coach? Nobody. Who was Ben Hogan's coach? Nobody. Who was Gene Sarazen's coach? Nobody.

Don't be a girly man
I hope the insult of “girly man” makes a comeback like Jack did in 86’.
 
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