Lee Westwood

Is that what makes golf an attractive game to those who seek success in business?
I think the mental aspect of golf is attractive to those who are successful in business. It takes a great deal of discipline, and you have to think about the game. I’m sure making the right decisions in business is as important as it is to make the right decisions on the golf course. Bad decisions tend to cost me a lot of money on the golf course and I’m sure that applies to the boardroom too!

Is there one particular occasion in your career where you made a big decision at the right time?
I think you are doing it all the time during the round. At the Dubai World Championship a couple of years ago I felt that I needed to be more aggressive rather than wait for somebody else to do it [he shot 64 in his final round and won the tournament by six shots]. I tend not to make too many mistakes so I tend to make good decisions.

How would you describe the ideal state of mind when a big decision needs to be made?
Very focused, very calm, and confident. Sometimes you just walk up to a shot and you see it straight away, but at other times you need to plan it out a bit more. For example if you are stuck between clubs, there is trouble at the back and the flag is at the back – you have to weigh up the percentages in that sort of situation.

So is there a degree of just trusting in your instincts on these occasions?
Yes, there is, especially when it gets windy. But it is as much about trusting in the game plan that you have formulated, rather than your instinct, as sometimes your instinct can be wrong whereas your game plan is more calculated.

Would you describe yourself as a big thinker about the game?
Yes, I’m fairly analytical and tend to weigh most things up.

Having got yourself back to the top of the game again, what do you put the reversal in your fortunes down to?
I think it was a combination of a lot of things. Your confidence takes a knock when you’re not playing very well, and to get that confidence back you’ve got to play some good golf. So, it’s a combination of working hard on everything – the mental side of the game, physical side, the swing, the short game – everything really.