A slightly historic thing happened today – finally the golfing world “got” Rory McIlroy. He sits, at 18 years of age, joint third in the Open Championship at Carnoustie. This is the wee fella who at age 16 totally smashed the course record at Royal Portrush with a 61. That’s a 61 on an ex British Open course and a course that is still regarded as one of the best in the world.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again – Tiger wasn’t doing that.
Rory is a simply huge talent. Awesome. and for some strange reason the world hasn’t got this yet.
“I’m only a wee fella but I tell you what – I’m fecking good at this”
But I did – very, very early on in my challenge. For one distinct reason – he uses the same range as me. he lives a couple of miles from my house and I had my initial epiphany about how to learn the golf swing from Rory. It’s my first secret that you can sign up for on the main site but it’s so crucial that it needs to be reiterated here.
Two days ago (after almost a months layoff from golf) I trudged down to the range. To be honest I’ve been enormously busy and had little interest. I half-heartedly whacked a few balls and then noticed Rory a couple of bays down from me. Doing his stuff. Beautiful, effortless swings that blast the ball to the fence on the edge of the range – always the holy grail for a range junkie!
And, just as I did a couple of years ago during my challenge, I stopped. I stopped and watched. For a solid ten minutes. I absorbed that beautiful swing and just felt the rhythm and inspired timing. And then I went back to hitting my own ball. But this time it was very different. Suddenly my whole swing changed and I had taken a little tiny bit of the magic into my own swing. Suddenly my own mediocre striking transformed into beautifully struck shots – maybe not blasting the fence but appreciably, quantifiably, qualitatively better than before.
This stuff works. I’ll be preaching this until the day I day because I’m right. Watch and absorb great swings and you can learn the swing as a total entity. Sign up for the first secret and you’ll get all the links to great swings that I found and used during the year. Having Rory beside you on the range is a rare privilege and, if I’m honest, I don’t even get the chance to see him that often but there are plenty of other ways to use the concept.
All I ask is that you’re open to it. Sign up and see.
I love this guy’s swing! And how cool, and fortunate, for you that you got to watch it up close. I agree wholeheartedly that just watching someone like that swing can gradually influence our own. I’ve had a similar experience. There’s a young guy who practices at my home course who I’ve not only watched closely and learned from, but who has even given me a few pointers on my swing and putting stroke. And I just learned two days ago that he’s currently filming Big Break VIII. I’m looking for ‘Josh’ to win this season. The guy can putt like nobody I’ve ever seen! And he didn’t even start playing golf until he was 19! IMHO, he’s the best talent that show has seen so far. Make sure to watch.
Yep – will do.
Incidentally just read Fearless Golf – if that had been about during my challenge it would have been a lot easier! What an utterly brilliant book. I have a load of stuff to write about it. Thanks for the nudge matey.
I have read a number of your post and I love it, can’t wait to read some more.