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Why GolfAuthor: IMG Audio Language: en Genres: Golf, Health & Fitness, Mental Health, Sports Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Dr Bob Rotella: The Psychology of Winning | Rory McIlroy, Confidence & Pressure
Sunday, 21 June, 2026
Whether you’re a golfer or simply interested in the psychology of high performance, this conversation reveals why the mind might be the most important club in the bag.In this episode of Why Golf, Di Stewart sits down with legendary sports psychologist Dr Bob Rotella — the man behind more than 70 major championship victories and trusted by the likes of Rory McIlroy, Pádraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and many more.Together, they explore the mental side of elite performance — from confidence and fear to handling pressure on the biggest stage. Bob shares powerful insights and stories from inside the game, including the mindset that helped shape major champions, and why learning to “forget” may be one of the most important skills in golf.What really separates the best golfers in the world? Dr Bob Rotella has some of the answers.Find more Why Golf content on Instagram, and find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer 📲 https://www.thisiswhygolf.comThe Why Golf podcast is presented by @skyscanner0:00 Introduction1:54 How Golf Has Changed Over Time 3:49 The Rise of Sports Psychology in Golf 5:04 Confidence, Pressure & Winning Mindsets 7:57 Padraig Harrington: Learning to Believe 9:10 Why Winning Doesn’t Always Build Confidence 10:17 Fear, Mistakes & Letting Go 11:39 Playing Outside the “Zone” 12:24 Mindlessness vs Mindfulness Explained 13:40 Dealing with Setbacks (and “Scar Tissue”) 15:00 Dreams vs Goals: Creating Your Own Reality 19:17 Competition, Mindset & Learning from Others 22:19 Why Loving the Game Matters Most 24:03 Visualisation & “Instant Amnesia” 27:30 Training Your Mind Under Pressure 28:56 Handling Expectations & External Pressure 30:12 Dealing with Failure & Building Resilience 32:32 Working with Rory McIlroy 33:26 Letting Go of Bad Shots 35:19 Reframing Mistakes at the Highest Level 37:48 Rory McIlroy: The Bounceback Masters Mentality 42:10 Mental Skills Across Different Sports 44:18 Leadership & Team Dynamics (Ryder Cup) 45:47 Match Play vs Stroke Play Mindset 49:09 Differences in Men’s & Women’s Golf 52:11 Bob Rotella's: Why Golf
