The Power of Role Model

What comes to mind when you hear the words, “role model?” Do you go whoosh, zoom! I wish I could be Batman! Do you think about your parents, friends, or other relatives? Do you think about great poets, pianists and artists? To me, Tiger Woods and Rory McilRoy are my role models as I play golf.

Have you heard of Tiger Woods? He is my role model, who inspires me by his persistence. In 2019, Tiger won his fifth Masters title, his first masters in 14 years, and his first championship in 11 years. It had been a long 11 years for Woods, who had  struggled. He suffered from back issues because of a car accident, and underwent four back surgeries throughout his career. When Woods returned to the course in December that year, he was ranked 1,199th in the world. Sponsors like AT&T dropped him, but Nike has stood by Woods.

He was the number 1 golfer in the world, considered a role model and the greatest golfer in a generation—and he fell from grace overnight. Woods had every excuse to retire, every reason to believe he would never win a championship again, every reason to believe no one cared if he competed. Many thought Woods was a lost cause, that his story was done. But that narrative has changed. His legacy will no longer be defined by his struggles, but by how he overcame them. Tiger believed in himself and he simply did not give up. It is an inspiring example of a person who worked through their issues in the public eye, made progress in spite of them, picked themselves up when they failed and kept going. Most people would have given up. Most people would not keep chasing a dream for 11 years against such odds and after such blistering, embarrassing failures. It’s an example of what we can achieve if we persist and never ever ever give up.

Rory Mcilroy was determined, he was clear that he wanted the golden trophy. He always wanted to be a professional golfer, ever since he was a toddler.  Can you believe this?

Let’s play  backward to look at Rory’s childhood.

At 10 months old, Rory was crawling around on the tee. By the time he was two, Rory had plastic clubs and balls of his own. Family stories started  that young Rory received a golf club as a present before being shown the correct grip by his dad. That club was taken to bed where Rory fell asleep with it, his hands holding the club perfectly.

At just seven years old Rory joined Holywood Golf Club. When he was eight he gave an interview saying he wanted to be the best golfer in the world and win all the majors and it looked like all those nights spent watching Nick Faldo’s video on golf technique had sunk in. Aged nine, Rory hit his first hole in one and within months he had scooped his first significant international victory in the World Championship in Florida. My 9 year old brother is still playing in the mud at school. Big difference.

With Rory’s ambition came hard work, he woke up at 5:30 AM and trained for 8 hours every single day. Rory is training  for greatness.

He was just eight years old when he vowed he would be the greatest golfer in the world. Nearly 22 years on, Rory McIlroy is currently ranked 2nd in the world as of the most recent November 13 world rankings.

Interestingly, Tiger Woods was one of his role models.

I do not have a reason why I’ve to spend 5 hours playing in a tournament on a super hot summer day until I’m truly inspired byTiger Woods, Rory Mcilroy, and many other great golfers in the world. Now I want to be a professional golfer. I practice every single day and prepare myself for Spring tournaments. When I feel frustrated about my swing, I am inspired by their greatest accomplishments; when I want to give up, I am reminded of their persistence. My dream may not come true, however it can shape me to be a better golfer on the course and a better person in the course of life, at least I can say this to my younger self when I grow up “I’m so proud of your persistence and your dedication.”