Whether you’re a golfer or simply interested in the psychology of high performance, this conversation reveals why the mind might be the most important club in the bag.In this episode of Why Golf, Di Stewart sits down with legendary sports psychologist Dr Bob Rotella — the man behind more than 70 major championship victories and trusted by the likes of Rory McIlroy, Pádraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and many more.Together, they explore the mental side of elite performance — from confidence and fear to handling pressure on the biggest stage. Bob shares powerful insights and stories from inside the game, including the mindset that helped shape major champions, and why learning to “forget” may be one of the most important skills in golf.What really separates the best golfers in the world? Dr Bob Rotella has some of the answers.Find more Why Golf content on Instagram, and find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer 📲 https://www.thisiswhygolf.comThe Why Golf podcast is presented by @skyscanner0:00 Introduction1:54 How Golf Has Changed Over Time 3:49 The Rise of Sports Psychology in Golf 5:04 Confidence, Pressure & Winning Mindsets 7:57 Padraig Harrington: Learning to Believe 9:10 Why Winning Doesn’t Always Build Confidence 10:17 Fear, Mistakes & Letting Go 11:39 Playing Outside the “Zone” 12:24 Mindlessness vs Mindfulness Explained 13:40 Dealing with Setbacks (and “Scar Tissue”) 15:00 Dreams vs Goals: Creating Your Own Reality 19:17 Competition, Mindset & Learning from Others 22:19 Why Loving the Game Matters Most 24:03 Visualisation & “Instant Amnesia” 27:30 Training Your Mind Under Pressure 28:56 Handling Expectations & External Pressure 30:12 Dealing with Failure & Building Resilience 32:32 Working with Rory McIlroy 33:26 Letting Go of Bad Shots 35:19 Reframing Mistakes at the Highest Level 37:48 Rory McIlroy: The Bounceback Masters Mentality 42:10 Mental Skills Across Different Sports 44:18 Leadership & Team Dynamics (Ryder Cup) 45:47 Match Play vs Stroke Play Mindset 49:09 Differences in Men’s & Women’s Golf 52:11 Bob Rotella's: Why Golf

Why Golf is back!

For the first episode of the new series, Di Stewart is catching up with a woman who is hoping to make the Team Europe roster for this autumn's Solheim Cup - Mimi Rhodes.

She details the whirlwind journey she’s been on since turning pro, and the reality of life on tour when she’s travelling the globe.

Mimi also reveals that she almost chose tennis over golf, and the joy she finds in playing golf with different generations of her family - something she highlights you can’t do in any other sport.

Plus, with this year’s Solheim Cup on the horizon, Mimi reveals the burning desire she has to be selected, as the all important rankings get closer to being finalised, and European captain Anna Nordqvist makes her crucial captain’s picks.

Find more Why Golf content on Instagram, and find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer 📲 https://www.thisiswhygolf.com

The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.

00:00 - Introduction

03:10 - Mimi’s reflects on her whirlwind couple of years since turning professional

06:54 - Justin & Kate Rose’s support for women’s golf

09:15 - What it was like to be part of the Curtis Cup win

12:33 - Growing up and playing golf across the world

16:32 - The beauty of golf to play with different generations

17:45 - Dealing with pressure & tour life

26:27 - Does she consider herself a ‘Solheim Cup contender’?

35:24 - Mimi assesses her 2026 so far

38:13 - Mimi’s role models

39:11 - Mimi is now a Skyscanner ambassador!

40:06 - Rapid fire questions41:39 - This or That?42:21 - What is Mimi’s Why Golf?43:20 - How important would it be to make the Solheim Cup team?43:54 - See you next time!