Desire, Drive, Determination, and a Good Caddie...
These are the things a young professional golfer needs to succeed at the highest level.
A good golfer can survive, even become a millionaire, playing a reasonable standard of golf. There are plenty of examples on tour today, both male and female players who fall into that category, no names mentioned here.
But what of the people who not only win lots of tournaments, and Major titles, who reach the number one spot in the World Rankings, and then just fade away.
Some become TV pundits, like David Duval, Nick Faldo, Luke Donald, but what unseen catastrophe doomed them to a life away from the greens.
Rory's Caddy Change and his Decline
Right now Rory McIlroy is in decline, he still has desire to win, but little drive or determination. The main reason is change, he changed his equipment, and Caddie, sacking J.P. Fitzgerald.
J.P. had driven Rory to be World number one in the Official World Golf Rankings for 95 weeks, a four-time Major champion, the 2011 U.S Open, 2012 PGA Championship, 2014 Open Championship, and 2014 PGA Championship.
Along with Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth Rory is one of four players to win three majors by the age of 25. Add to that tally of his, three Race to Dubai titles, the FedEx Cup, and also Ryder Cup success, so why change?
Rory has achieved everything he set out to do and now wants to have fun to play golf. He has hired one of his best friends to carry the bag and openly admits that they have fun out on the golf course. If you are playing golf for fun, there is no driving determination to win.
He only wants to play in good weather;
"Rather play when it's 80 degrees and sunny and not much wind"
Tiger Woods, and Lydia Ko Caddy Changes
Lydia Ko has a poor history of sacking caddies, seven in total before signing Jason Hamilton, he carried her bags for 10 of her 14 LPGA tour victories, and more importantly both of her Major wins, as well as a Silver Medal at the Olympics, so why change. Lydia also swapped equipment, and since Jason’s departure, and slipped down in the World Rankings. She also has achieved everything she wanted and just wants to have fun out on the golf course, and is already talking of walking away from the professional ranks;
"I'll probably play some odd golf here or there, maybe play for $100 or something with a friend."
Tiger Woods sacked the best caddie in the world, Steve Williams, and has not achieved too much since, although his injuries have now slowed him down.
You can not beat a good caddie.