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.
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The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.
0:00 Introduction
1:54 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
