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The Mindset that Won the Masters
Rory McIlroy’s secret to breaking an 11-year drought.
The Mind, Explored.
April 20, 2025
Source: USA Today Sports
Rory McIlroy had one of the greatest career starts in sporting history:
At 22, Rory won the 2011 U.S. Open, breaking the record for the lowest score.
He then followed it up with the PGA Championship in 2012, the Open Championship in 2014, and another PGA Championship in 2014.
By age 25, Rory had already won 4 majors, matching Tiger Woods’ pace.
The only golf major he hadn’t won was the most sacred of them all: the Masters.
However, since his last major win in 2014, Rory didn’t win a single major for 11 years. He experienced heartbreak over and over again, with multiple second place finishes that kept his dreams excruciatingly out of reach.
Until he won the Masters last week, becoming the sixth golfer in history to complete the career grand slam. Having worked tirelessly on every facet of his game, Rory attributes his success not to his improved technique, physical conditioning, or golf clubs - but to his mindset.
Looking for tips on how to improve on the golf course, I came across a podcast clip where Rory shares his secret to lower scores. But what I discovered were a set of principles that don’t just apply to golf, they apply to everything. Why? Because they are all about the mind.
Below, I have transcribed and dissected Rory’s principles with a prompt to help you reflect on how you live up to these. Like me, you will be shocked at how relevant they are to every important aspect of life.
1) “Play within yourself”
When asked, “What are some ways that you think golfers can really easily improve their game?” Rory thought his answer was boring. He said, “Just playing within yourself.”
Rory shares an example in golf when we accidently hit the ball into the trees. From here, it can be tempting to hit the ball towards the hole as if it were lying on the fairway. At this point, Rory needs his caddie to advise him to chip it into a playable area, before aiming for the hole.
How can we translate this into a better mindset for a better life?
Hitting the ball into the trees = Getting derailed by a setback
Imagine you’ve left your work late or fallen into a bad habit - your “ball” is stuck in the “trees” of stress.
Temptation to hit the ball towards the pin = Trying to force a big fix
Your impulse might be to pull an all‑nighter or lean on a dramatic “quick‑fix” - just like trying a heroic shot straight at the hole from the trees.
Chipping it back into a playable area = Re‑establishing solid ground
Instead of doubling down on stress, step back and do the small, practical thing first - break the project into tiny tasks, reach out for support, or return to a simple habit - so you’re back in “playable” terrain where real progress can happen.
Reflection: Where in your life could you scale back slightly to be more effective? Looking ahead, what small but reliable action can you take to get back into a groove? That “chip” will get you unstuck far more often than a risky leap.
2) “Know your tendencies”
His second answer was, “Really getting to know your tendencies. Do you miss it right? Do you miss it left? Do you usually come up short? Do you usually hit it long?”
Rory says that “playing away from the weakest parts of your game is an easy way to take strokes off your handicap.” It’s also an easy way to boost your performance in anything.
Translating self-awareness on the course to self-awareness off the course:
Your tendencies = Your usual thoughts, feelings, and habits
Do you tend to scroll on social media when tired? Do you procrastinate when you have a big task? Or, do you overcommit - “hitting it long” - and then burn out?
Playing away from your weakest parts = Structuring your life around your strengths
Once you’ve identified your tendencies, you can implement systems to avoid them:
If you scroll on social media, temporarily block or delete the app.
If you procrastinate, break big tasks into non-threatening steps.
If you overcommit, build buffer days into your calendar.
Reflection: Identify one of your tendencies. What system can you implement to avoid suffering because of it?
3) “Process over prize”
The mantra that Rory repeats to himself in his most critical moments is “Process over prize.” Because “the outcome will ultimately happen if we just focus on the process.”
What is your “process” and “prize”?
Process = Your daily systems and habits
In golf, the “process” is every shot, every routine, every breath you take before you swing. In life, it’s also your routine - your journaling, your exercise, the stretch you do before sitting down. These are the moment‑to‑moment choices that compound into excellence.
Prize = External milestones and validations
The “prize” in golf is the trophy, the position on the leader board, the validation from others. In your life, it’s the promotion, award, or follower count. While every journey needs an end-point to pursue, outcomes can distract you from the process, taking you away from the consistent actions you need to take to stand any chance of winning at all.
The irony is, the more energy we pour into the process, the better our chances are of winning the prize. Instead of occupying your mind with all the hopes and anxieties of a prize, direct your attention to the actions that will lead you there - trusting that the outcome will reflect the quality of your process.
Reflection: What is one prize you’re working towards right now? What are three processes (daily actions) that build towards it? Are you focusing on the process or the prize?
Source: ABC News
Rory McIlroy’s triumph at the Masters - after 11 long years - reminds us that by playing to our strengths, knowing our tendencies, and focusing on the process, we let the prize find us.
Written by Dr Manu Sidhu 🩺
If you’re looking for a path towards clearer thinking, peak performance, and fulfilling your potential, you may be interested in Mindset & Transformation Coaching with Dr Manu Sidhu at The Aevia Mind.
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