Rory McIlroy’s path to the Masters has had talking of reading ‘David and Goliath’, making reference to Abraham Lincoln and now arriving at Augusta National speaking of reading-up on the life of Steve Jobs and also taking-up meditation in his goal to become a Grand Slam winner.
McIlroy had revealed ahead of the Genesis Open he was reading ‘David & Goliath’ but it was not the childhood fable we all know but a newer-look at the story of good over evil by Malcolm Gladwell.
Then there was reference on the eve of the Arnold Palmer Invitational with regards Abraham Lincoln lost some 13 elections before being elected President of the United States.
He’s also reading a second book at present – “Digital Minimalism” by Cal Newport.
Dr. Clayton Skaggs and Rory McIlroy at the 2019 Players (Photo – Gettys)
But all the reading, the meditation and so on does not mean McIlroy is going to become recluse and join the life of living as a monk in his quest to win the one major he so desperately desire.
“Look, I’m not going to go and live with the monks for a couple of months in Nepal, but just to be able to get your mind in the right place and be able to focus and to centre yourself,” he said. “It’s 10 minutes a day. It’s not as if I’m being consumed by it. But definitely something that has helped from time to time. Especially in situations where you need your mind to be right.”
“It’s not as if I’m being consumed by it. But, definitely, it is something that has helped from time to time,” said McIlroy, who revealed he’d meditated for 20 minutes on the morning of his final round in winning the Players last month.
“I guess I’ve dabbled in it over the years and I’ve needed it from time to time. But I never fully immersed myself in it. It’s searching until you find what resonates with you. Maybe what resonates with me isn’t going to resonate with someone else. But I found what I feel is the best path forward for me and I’ve committed to it”.
The World No. 3 said he’s focused his new-found ‘3p’s’ – perspective, persistence and poise.
To this extent McIlroy arrived at Augusta National Dr. Clayton Skaggs, Medical Director of the Central Institute for Human Performance in Jupiter, Florida, with him to Augusta.
McIlroy’s also talked one of his prior reads in Og Mandino’s “The Greatest Salesman in the World” while he informed us of his latest book – Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs.
McIlroy got his first look this year at Augusta National last Wednesday and likened walking the course affectionately known as ‘The Cathedral in the Pines” to: “Honestly, my best experiences of Augusta have been when it’s not Masters week,” he said. “It’s quiet, serene. You could describe it as a spiritual place. Walking in here outside of the tournament, it’s a bit like going into an empty church.”
