Why Golf

One of the world's leading cricketers, England spinner Sophie Ecclestone, joins us on the Why Golf podcast to talk about her passion for a game that’s quite different to the one she competes in professionally!
Fresh from being named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year, Sophie reflects on her remarkable rise in the game, England's hopes of lifting a World Cup on home soil, and what it's like playing in front of packed crowds around the world.
She also opens up about a difficult period away from the cricket pitch, why golf became her "safe space" during that time, and the friendship she found through the sport when she needed it most.
Plus, Sophie reveals how she first caught the golf bug during the covid pandemic, why she feels more nervous standing on the first tee than bowling for England, and why she thinks golf might actually be harder than cricket!

00:00 Introduction06:00 Playing for England, The Hundred, IPL & More08:23 England's T20 World Cup and Home Crowd Advantage10:27 Life on Tour and Travelling the World11:22 Why Business Class Has Made Sophie a Snob!12:25 Cricket Role Models and Inspiring the Next Generation13:25 How Sophie Fell in Love with Golf During Covid15:02 Why Sophie Has Banished Her Driver17:21 Why Golf Is the Hardest Sport She's Ever Played20:58 Why So Many Athletes Become Obsessed with Golf21:53 Golf as a Safe Space22:34 Mental Health, Recovery and the Friend Golf Gave Her25:55 Why Golf Creates More Pressure Than Playing for England26:58 First Tee Nerves and Watching the Solheim Cup28:55 What Cricket and Golf Can Learn From Each Other29:37 Team Culture, Friendship and Winning30:14 The Best Golf Courses Sophie Has Played Worldwide32:37 If Sophie Could Play Golf Anywhere Tomorrow...33:05 Dream Fourball: Justin Bieber, Michael Jackson & More35:24 Sophie's Dream Golf Superpower36:46 Solheim Cup Predictions37:29 Sophie's Why Golf?

Whether you’re a golfer or simply interested in the psychology of high performance, this conversation reveals why the mind might be the most important club in the bag.In this episode of Why Golf, Di Stewart sits down with legendary sports psychologist Dr Bob Rotella — the man behind more than 70 major championship victories and trusted by the likes of Rory McIlroy, Pádraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and many more.Together, they explore the mental side of elite performance — from confidence and fear to handling pressure on the biggest stage. Bob shares powerful insights and stories from inside the game, including the mindset that helped shape major champions, and why learning to “forget” may be one of the most important skills in golf.What really separates the best golfers in the world? Dr Bob Rotella has some of the answers.Find more Why Golf content on Instagram, and find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer 📲 https://www.thisiswhygolf.comThe Why Golf podcast is presented by @skyscanner0:00 Introduction1:54 How Golf Has Changed Over Time 3:49 The Rise of Sports Psychology in Golf 5:04 Confidence, Pressure & Winning Mindsets 7:57 Padraig Harrington: Learning to Believe 9:10 Why Winning Doesn’t Always Build Confidence 10:17 Fear, Mistakes & Letting Go 11:39 Playing Outside the “Zone” 12:24 Mindlessness vs Mindfulness Explained 13:40 Dealing with Setbacks (and “Scar Tissue”) 15:00 Dreams vs Goals: Creating Your Own Reality 19:17 Competition, Mindset & Learning from Others 22:19 Why Loving the Game Matters Most 24:03 Visualisation & “Instant Amnesia” 27:30 Training Your Mind Under Pressure 28:56 Handling Expectations & External Pressure 30:12 Dealing with Failure & Building Resilience 32:32 Working with Rory McIlroy 33:26 Letting Go of Bad Shots 35:19 Reframing Mistakes at the Highest Level 37:48 Rory McIlroy: The Bounceback Masters Mentality 42:10 Mental Skills Across Different Sports 44:18 Leadership & Team Dynamics (Ryder Cup) 45:47 Match Play vs Stroke Play Mindset 49:09 Differences in Men’s & Women’s Golf 52:11 Bob Rotella's: Why Golf

Why Golf is back!

For the first episode of the new series, Di Stewart is catching up with a woman who is hoping to make the Team Europe roster for this autumn's Solheim Cup - Mimi Rhodes.

She details the whirlwind journey she’s been on since turning pro, and the reality of life on tour when she’s travelling the globe.

Mimi also reveals that she almost chose tennis over golf, and the joy she finds in playing golf with different generations of her family - something she highlights you can’t do in any other sport.

Plus, with this year’s Solheim Cup on the horizon, Mimi reveals the burning desire she has to be selected, as the all important rankings get closer to being finalised, and European captain Anna Nordqvist makes her crucial captain’s picks.

Find more Why Golf content on Instagram, and find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer 📲 https://www.thisiswhygolf.com

The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.

00:00 - Introduction
03:10 - Mimi’s reflects on her whirlwind couple of years since turning professional
06:54 - Justin & Kate Rose’s support for women’s golf
09:15 - What it was like to be part of the Curtis Cup win
12:33 - Growing up and playing golf across the world
16:32 - The beauty of golf to play with different generations
17:45 - Dealing with pressure & tour life
26:27 - Does she consider herself a ‘Solheim Cup contender’?
35:24 - Mimi assesses her 2026 so far
38:13 - Mimi’s role models
39:11 - Mimi is now a Skyscanner ambassador!
40:06 - Rapid fire questions41:39 - This or That?42:21 - What is Mimi’s Why Golf?43:20 - How important would it be to make the Solheim Cup team?43:54 - See you next time!

For the final episode of series 3, Di is joined by one of the busiest people in golf – content creator and golf personality Tisha Alyn!

Tisha explains what it was like giving up her pro career to turn her attention to social media full time, and the massive success she’s had since then.

From producing several viral videos to setting up her own clothing brand, investing in Los Angeles Golf Club and TGL and hosting her own podcast, Tisha tells Di she’s never afraid of a new challenge.

Plus, find out what she makes of how the diversity of golf has improved in recent years, and why she’s expecting the 2026 Solheim Cup in the Netherlands to be bigger than ever!

Find more Why Golf content on Instagram, and find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer 📲 https://www.thisiswhygolf.com

The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.

DP World & PGA Tour winner Matt Wallace joins Di Stewart on the latest episode of Why Golf!
Matt explains what it was like to narrowly miss out on Ryder Cup selection again in 2025 and his ambition to play in 2027 at Adare Manor.
He also talks about what it was like to burst onto the professional golf scene with several wins in his first few seasons, and the methods he uses to bounce back from adversity on the golf course.
Plus, Matt reveals his close friendship with Justin Rose, someone he calls a mentor, and how important his parents were in his sporting journey.

Find more Why Golf content on Instagram, and find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer 📲 https://www.thisiswhygolf.com

The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.