Rory McIlroy has revealed two of his secret weapons ahead of teeing it up at The Open Championship tomorrow: Meditation and a Diamond in the rough.
The World No3 is an 8/1 favourite to lift the Claret Jug and win the fifth major of his career as Royal Portrush hosts the tournament for the first time in 68 years.
And McIlroy believes meditation and his caddie - and close pal - Harry Diamond will have him fully prepped and relaxed ahead of Thursday’s opening day on the Dunluce Links.
Diamond, on the four-time major winner’s bag since 2016, represented Ireland as an amateur and is better versed on the quirks and challenges of Portrush than his childhood friend.
“One of the things people don’t realise, Harry has played more rounds on this course than I have - and definitely more competitive rounds,” said McIlroy.
“He reached the final of the North (of Ireland) a few years ago, so he's just as comfortable on this golf course as I am. So that is a big help this week.
“Not that I don't let him have any say any other weeks.. but I think with his experience around here, my ear will be a little sharper to what he has to say.”
McIlroy embraced mind training and meditation earlier this year and he revealed he has incorporated meditative techniques into his nightly routine.
“Yeah, I still do it from time to time,” he said. “I sort of do a guided meditation every night before I go to bed. It's something that helps me sleep better.
“It’s something I've tried to incorporate into my daily routine. But I find hitting golf balls meditative. I think that to me is a nice way to unwind and clear the head a little bit.
“There's many different ways of doing it. I think people hear the term "meditation" and they think sort of spiritual, yoga, hippy sort of stuff. It's not quite like that.”
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