Dr. Bob Rotella (left) has worked with some of golf's biggest names on the mental side of what can be a very lonely pursuit. His prowess has helped plenty of players realize their dreams, like three-time major champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland (center).
Mind over matter —
Dr. Bob Rotella (left) has worked with some of golf's biggest names on the mental side of what can be a very lonely pursuit. His prowess has helped plenty of players realize their dreams, like three-time major champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland (center).
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But for all the triumphs there are just as many major chokes. Australian Adam Scott was on course for his first major at the British Open in 2012 but blew a four-shot lead over the closing holes to let Ernie Els swoop in to steal the crown. Scott did grab his first major this year though, at The Masters.
One that Scott away —
But for all the triumphs there are just as many major chokes. Australian Adam Scott was on course for his first major at the British Open in 2012 but blew a four-shot lead over the closing holes to let Ernie Els swoop in to steal the crown. Scott did grab his first major this year though, at The Masters.
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Rory McIlroy now has two majors to his name but back at the 2011 Masters he was searching for his first. The Northern Irishman started the final day with a four-stroke lead but shot the worst round ever recorded by someone leading after three rounds of the Masters. Charl Schwartzel took the title, but McIlroy bounced back to win the U.S. Open just two months later.
McIlroy's meltdown —
Rory McIlroy now has two majors to his name but back at the 2011 Masters he was searching for his first. The Northern Irishman started the final day with a four-stroke lead but shot the worst round ever recorded by someone leading after three rounds of the Masters. Charl Schwartzel took the title, but McIlroy bounced back to win the U.S. Open just two months later.
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I.K. Kim endured major heartbreak in 2012. The 24-year-old missed a one-foot putt on the final hole of the Kraft Nabisco Championship that would've earned her first major, and then lost a playoff to fellow South Korean Yoo Sun-Young.
Kim crisis —
I.K. Kim endured major heartbreak in 2012. The 24-year-old missed a one-foot putt on the final hole of the Kraft Nabisco Championship that would've earned her first major, and then lost a playoff to fellow South Korean Yoo Sun-Young.
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Another of Rotella's charges, Darren Clarke, held his nerve to win the 2011 British Open, his first major title at the 46th attempt. Then 42, the Northern Irishman held true to Rotella's mantra: "You're unstoppable if you're unflappable."
Clarke's Claret Jug —
Another of Rotella's charges, Darren Clarke, held his nerve to win the 2011 British Open, his first major title at the 46th attempt. Then 42, the Northern Irishman held true to Rotella's mantra: "You're unstoppable if you're unflappable."
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One of golf's most famous failures came from Jean van de Velde. The Frenchman was on course to become a shock winner of the 1999 British Open, requiring just a double bogey on the 18th hole to claim the Claret Jug. What followed has made Van de Velde one sport's most infamous chokers, with a series of wayward shots leaving him in the water. Van de Velde found a greenside bunker with his fifth shot before he eventually holed his seventh for a triple bogey, forcing a playoff. Scotland's Paul Lawrie emerged from the three-way decider as the champion.
Troubled waters —
One of golf's most famous failures came from Jean van de Velde. The Frenchman was on course to become a shock winner of the 1999 British Open, requiring just a double bogey on the 18th hole to claim the Claret Jug. What followed has made Van de Velde one sport's most infamous chokers, with a series of wayward shots leaving him in the water. Van de Velde found a greenside bunker with his fifth shot before he eventually holed his seventh for a triple bogey, forcing a playoff. Scotland's Paul Lawrie emerged from the three-way decider as the champion.
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Even the greats are prone to the odd choke. Not only did seven-time major winner Arnold Palmer blow a seven-shot lead at the 1966 U.S. Open but he also lost the subsequent 18-hole playoff for the title to Billy Casper after having led by two shots.
Palmer's peril —
Even the greats are prone to the odd choke. Not only did seven-time major winner Arnold Palmer blow a seven-shot lead at the 1966 U.S. Open but he also lost the subsequent 18-hole playoff for the title to Billy Casper after having led by two shots.
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Another Rotella player, Keegan Bradley, won the first major he ever participated in -- the U.S. PGA Championship of 2011. Thanks to his work with Rotella, Bradley was able to immediately banish a potentially terminal triple bogey on the 15th hole from his mind and recover to make a playoff with Jason Dufner, which he duly won.
Bradley's breakthrough —
Another Rotella player, Keegan Bradley, won the first major he ever participated in -- the U.S. PGA Championship of 2011. Thanks to his work with Rotella, Bradley was able to immediately banish a potentially terminal triple bogey on the 15th hole from his mind and recover to make a playoff with Jason Dufner, which he duly won.
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