rksquire
Head Pro
He burst on to the scene with tons of potential and has largely fulfilled that; let's be serious, he's done pretty well and there's only one thing missing that he'd love and that's the Masters. The Open, the US Open, the PGA, the Players, the Race to Dubai, the Fed-Ex Cup, the Ryder Cup, the Irish (home) Open, Wentworth, not to mention the other PGA and European Tour wins. As I said, there's only one thing missing, 95% of golfers, past and present, would happily swap careers with him.
But..... he is over analysed, no doubt, and part of him enjoys that I'm sure, as it makes him relevant and there is a professional peer appreciation of the talents he's got (for example, there's a reason the Fitzpatricks, the Lowrys, the Wallaces, the Kisners, etc., aren't over analysed). A number of things stick out in my mind with regards to McIlroy - he's a natural talent, carefully nurtured by his father and 'local' coach and caddy at the start and surrounded by people happy to keep the pressure at bay. Eventually the 'boy' becomes a 'man' and wants more control and say over things and this is where pressure begins to mount - sure he has people around him to advise, but he's making the decisions. McIlroy is not like Tiger Woods - Gerry is nothing like Woods Senior (that's a good thing) - but Woods was preconditioned to not only be the best golfer but also to have the mentality to deal with it (how this affected Woods in later life is a different discussion). McIlroy hurt his foot playing football with his mates. Woods would never do this; McIlroy simply states there's things in a 'normal' life he won't sacrifice for his golf - friends, family, life experiences etc. Is that to be commended with the natural talent he had? Maybe. He's at a crossroads now where he has to decide what way the next 10 years of his career will go. He has enough talent to turn up and occasionally win; he also has the ability to go on a dominant run. As things stand, he's happy to take time off, happy to pursue 'whims' (more distance!), happy to pursue strict fitness regimes, happy to study psychology texts etc. etc. There may or may not be merit in these things (DJ is clear evidence not overthinking things has its benefits). I don't think he works hard enough. He says he works on things, and he does, but he doesn't practice and work on things like, say BDC, or even the many other journeyman golfers. It is a mentality thing, particularly with regard to the standard we seem to want to hold him to - Woods priority as a child was golf. As an amatuer, it was golf. As a pro, it was golf. When he got married it was golf. Latter day Woods priorities his kids over golf, except when he steps across the ropes - then it's only golf. McIlroy, I believe, doesn't have that single-mindedness. I can't criticize him for wanting everything - a contented, happy personal life and a stellar career - I imagine that's what most of instill in our kids, that balance, but it comes at the expense of current golfing greatness. Hopefully he can find a way to focus his mentality, when he practices and plays, it's 100% golf to be the best, and nothing else matters at those points.
But..... he is over analysed, no doubt, and part of him enjoys that I'm sure, as it makes him relevant and there is a professional peer appreciation of the talents he's got (for example, there's a reason the Fitzpatricks, the Lowrys, the Wallaces, the Kisners, etc., aren't over analysed). A number of things stick out in my mind with regards to McIlroy - he's a natural talent, carefully nurtured by his father and 'local' coach and caddy at the start and surrounded by people happy to keep the pressure at bay. Eventually the 'boy' becomes a 'man' and wants more control and say over things and this is where pressure begins to mount - sure he has people around him to advise, but he's making the decisions. McIlroy is not like Tiger Woods - Gerry is nothing like Woods Senior (that's a good thing) - but Woods was preconditioned to not only be the best golfer but also to have the mentality to deal with it (how this affected Woods in later life is a different discussion). McIlroy hurt his foot playing football with his mates. Woods would never do this; McIlroy simply states there's things in a 'normal' life he won't sacrifice for his golf - friends, family, life experiences etc. Is that to be commended with the natural talent he had? Maybe. He's at a crossroads now where he has to decide what way the next 10 years of his career will go. He has enough talent to turn up and occasionally win; he also has the ability to go on a dominant run. As things stand, he's happy to take time off, happy to pursue 'whims' (more distance!), happy to pursue strict fitness regimes, happy to study psychology texts etc. etc. There may or may not be merit in these things (DJ is clear evidence not overthinking things has its benefits). I don't think he works hard enough. He says he works on things, and he does, but he doesn't practice and work on things like, say BDC, or even the many other journeyman golfers. It is a mentality thing, particularly with regard to the standard we seem to want to hold him to - Woods priority as a child was golf. As an amatuer, it was golf. As a pro, it was golf. When he got married it was golf. Latter day Woods priorities his kids over golf, except when he steps across the ropes - then it's only golf. McIlroy, I believe, doesn't have that single-mindedness. I can't criticize him for wanting everything - a contented, happy personal life and a stellar career - I imagine that's what most of instill in our kids, that balance, but it comes at the expense of current golfing greatness. Hopefully he can find a way to focus his mentality, when he practices and plays, it's 100% golf to be the best, and nothing else matters at those points.
