How Did Rory McIlroy miss those putts at the U.S. Open? 

​CHAPTER 2 – Why Does Choking Occur?

How Did Rory McIlroy miss those putts at the U.S. Open? 

how did Rory McIlroy miss those putts at The U.S. Open

(Photo by Richard Washbrooke/News Images)

 

Try teaching someone how to ride a bike.

Yes, you get on and pedal, but there’s a lot more to that, like balance, turning, looking…

Our memory is often procedural, meaning we don’t have to think about it. Since we do not have to think about it, it’s difficult to even explain it.

It brings up the question- why does choking occur, but that is also why the very best performers are not the best coaches or teachers, because they just do what they do, they don’t have to think about it.

How did Rory McIlroy miss those putts at the U.S. Open and choke at Pinehurt? 

Coaches often have trouble with highly intelligent performers, because they often become over-analytical about their well-learned skill.

So, when we have to think about or try to control well-learned skills, we are susceptible to sub-optimal performance. Add in the factor of a high-pressure environment with something on the line, thinking too much can become every detrimental.

Next, after we start over-analyzing, we start to FEEL the stressful situation in a fight, flight, or freeze response. Our body tenses up, breathing becomes faster, we start to sweat, have even more thoughts, speed up or slow way down and TRY NOT to mess up. That begins the quest to answer why does choking occur.

Trying not to mess-up ► Over-analyzing movements ► Fight/Flight

How Did Rory McIlroy miss those putts at the U.S. Open? 

 

Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. DRB & associates coach executives and professional athletes. Some clients have included three different winners on the PGA Tour, Indy Eleven, University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens.