When Rory McIlroy became the sixth player in history to complete a career Grand Slam, and when Shane Lowry rolled in that putt to retain the Ryder Cup, I was reminded again of the sheer mental resilience required to excel at the elite level of sport.
The margins are microscopic. Everyone at that level can execute the skill – the difference between glory and heartbreak is what happens between the ears.
Most players can do it when it doesn’t count. I remember being on a Lions tour when a post-training kicking session broke out – Johnny Wilkinson, Stephen Jones, Gavin Henson were all there. On that Tuesday on the South Island, surrounded by some of the best kickers from the northern hemisphere, I ended up with the most accurate boot.
There was no celebration, though. I knew that come match day, the odds were that the ball would more likely slice off the outside of my foot than find its target.
As sports psychologist Bob
Continue Reading on The Irish Times
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.