Meet the golf whisperer who helped Rory McIlroy win his first Masters

Bob Rotella had nary idea.

Golf’s astir renowned sports psychologist, who has been moving pinch Rory McIlroy for years, had been sitting successful a quiet room pinch nan 36-year-old prima from Northern Ireland successful nan caddie building astatine Augusta National, wherever they had a motivational chat earlier each 4 of McIlroy’s Masters rounds past month.

When nan infinitesimal of truth arrived astatine nan extremity of what unfolded into an epic last round, pinch McIlroy’s sanction atop nan manually-operated achromatic leaderboard, Rotella was floored by what he saw.

We each saw it: McIlroy’s last putt vanished into nan cup connected 18 to clinch his first greenish jacket, seizure his first awesome title successful 11 years and complete nan coveted profession Grand Slam.