• US PGA Championship

Westwood needs to 'stop caring' - psychologist

ESPN staff
August 11, 2011

Lee Westwood has been told to "stop caring" about his golf in a bid to claim his first major.

Having seen Darren Clarke triumph at The Open last month, Westwood has turned to psychologist Dr Bob Rotella, who has guided a host of players to major glory, with the likes of Padraig Harrington, Trevor Immelman, Davis Love III and Paul Azinger among the list of his clients.

Clarke credited Rotella for his part in claiming an unexpected victory at Royal St George's last month, and Westwood, who has six top-three finishes at majors in the past three years, believes Rotella can help convert consistency into major glory.

Westwood and Rotella spent the day together before the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio, where the pair talked for hours without Westwood picking up a golf club. Rotella's therapy involves encouraging his clients to "stop caring" and shut out pain and fear.

"My players are always at their best when they are unconscious," Rotella said. "The challenge is to be unconscious while winning something you have dreamt about since you were a kid."

Westwood has often been let down by his putting, but Rotella believes it is not for a lack of ability.

"Lee had trouble hitting the ball in the middle of his clubface," Rotella said. "But he knows how to putt. If you worry, anyone can look like a lousy putter. The stuff I teach, people already know. They just have to let themselves do it."

Rotella insists Clarke's performance at Sandwich was not perfect, but the secret to his success was his positive mindset, and Westwood hopes such an attitude will rub off on him in Atlanta this weekend.

"Darren used to get real hard on himself," Rotella said. "If you don't think you can win, you will always find a way to screw up. But he has learnt to under-react to things that happen.

"Everyone says that Darren played perfectly at the Open, but the truth is he missed all kinds of shots - he just didn't care. He was in a good mood and when that happens, he's a pretty good player."

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