Leading Specialists for Golf in Ireland

March 2010

RORY McILROY added a new part to his armoury yesterday, working with Dr Bob Rotella ahead of this week’s Honda Classic at Palm Beach in Florida but with the longer-term goal that the leading sports psychologist – who has worked with leading golfers, including Pádraig Harrington and Ernie Els – will help him take the next step towards a major victory.

McIlroy, who remains at number nine in the latest world rankings, had Rotella – who doesn’t approach potential clients, working on the theory that those who seek him out are ready to take on board whatever input he offers – walk nine holes with him yesterday as the new partnership took its fledgling steps.

Having enjoyed a breakthrough season last year that saw him claim a maiden tour title in the Dubai Desert Classic, as well as chalking up no fewer than 14 top-10 finishes on the European Tour and a third-place finish in the USPGA, the 20-year-old Ulsterman has taken a leaf out of Harrington’s book by enlisting Rotella as his mind guru as he ticks another box in the quest to become a more regular winner of titles. “I don’t think there is anything wrong with me or my game, I just think that Bob can help me in some way and it’s definitely not going to hurt,” said McIlroy.

McIlroy’s rise to number nine in the world has come on the back of getting into contention in virtually every tournament he plays, but – so far – that win in Dubai is the only victory on his CV.“This is about getting experience and thinking about things at the right time, not hitting it longer or anything like that,” he said of teaming-up with Rotella.

Of course, McIlroy won’t have Rotella all to himself this week in Florida. Harrington, too, will be picking the brains of the psychologist as the Dubliner – who made a first-round exit at the hands of Jeev Mikha Singh in the Accenture Matchplay – returns to competitive duty ahead of next week’s WGC-CA Championship in Doral, while Graeme McDowell completes the trio of Irishmen in the field in the Honda where he is playing on a sponsor’s invite.