In this episode, European Tour veteran and two-time winner Robert Rock reveals how investing in his swing — and gaining an intimate understanding what goes into making it look effortless — helped him beat Tiger Woods in Abu Dhabi in 2012 and achieve a lifelong dream.
We apologise for the sound quality on this episode but hope you’ll stick with it to discover how Robert’s fascination with historic players like Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Nick Faldo shaped his approach to technique and competition, even when the spotlight was off.
We also break down how an obsession with precision and simplicity helped him craft one of the game's most admired swings — and why even the best struggle with basic putting. And beyond the tournaments and trophies, Robert’s journey uncovers his obsession with swing mechanics and aesthetics, the evolution of golf equipment, and why the game’s true mastery lies in the process, not just the outcome.
Robert Rock’s candid stories explore the shifting landscape of professional golf — from equipment innovations to the decline of long irons and traditional course architecture. He shares how the modern game’s power and technology are reshaping how pros approach tournament play, and why this might be diluting some of golf’s timeless artistic challenge.
Chapters
00:00 Introducing this week's guest, Robert Rock
01:22 Robert's early connection with golf
04:16 The uninhibited joy of junior golf
05:41 Europe's greats and early idols
07:01 Evolution of technique and equipment
08:57 The era Robert would liked to have played in
11:56 The competitive edge: What sets pro golfers apart?
13:59 Studying Ben Hogan and Bobby Jones
17:30 The differences between scratch players and tour pros
18:49 Process over outcome
20:36 The Journey to his first tour win
24:30 Memorable shots
29:53 Mixed experiences at the US Open
34:01 Head to head with Tiger Woods in 20212
38:04 Reflections on playing with and beating Tiger Woods
40:01 Hat tans: the scourge of pro golf
42:03 Supporting his son, a pro footballer
45:25 Finding a cure for his putting woes
46:23 Transitioning to Senior Golf
51:37 Lessons Learned from a distinguished career
53:48 The current state of professional golf
57:17 Happiest times in golf
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