'I'm Not Gonna Die': Rory McIlroy Reveals His Struggle With First-Tee Nerves and How He Beat It

‘If he has my driving and his dad’s chipping, he’ll be the next Rory McIlroy’

Rory McIlroy Shares Personal Feelings on Beating First-Tee Nerves

Rory McIlroy has shared the mental approach that helped him overcome the first-tee nerves he experienced throughout his career, explaining that he intentionally thinks through the worst possible outcome before hitting his opening shot. The six-time major champion discussed the strategy during a recent appearance on the WHOOP Podcast, offering insight into how he manages […] The post Rory McIlroy Shares Personal Feelings on Beating First-Tee Nerv…

'I'm Not Gonna Die': Rory McIlroy Reveals His Struggle With First-Tee Nerves and How He Beat It

Even Rory McIlroy is not impervious to first-tee nerves. Before the 2025 Masters, he opened up about how much the first tee can rattle him. But what makes his case interesting is that, unlike many other professionals, he doesn’t avoid the nerves. Instead, he tackles them with a practical, counterintuitive mental routine. “I say this all the time. It’s counterintuitive to a lot of people to do this, but I do. If you’re trying to overcome anxiety …