Secrets of a Champion

Another important piece of the jigsaw is equipment. Our interview took place just before Nike’s decision to pull out of golf’s hardware market to concentrate on footwear and apparel. But as the man himself explains, all of these elements, from the clubs he swings to the clothing he wears, are under constant review. For any champion, it seems, the gains of having exactly the right gear are essential.

“The guys at Nike have got a better understanding of my action and the golf swing in general, with mine and Steve’s input. We’ll show them the data from our biomechanics testings and they can see whether I need more stability on one side of my shoe, or whatever it may be,” he says. “I’ve learned quite a lot in terms of club and apparel design, but I think they have learned a lot about the golf swing, too, because of how much detail we go into. It’s great to be able to share and for everyone to be on the same page. It’s fantastic to be a part of a team like that, where everyone is working towards the same goal, which is obviously me trying to become the best player I can be.”