If you thought that playing golf simply consists of trying to guide a little ball into holes in as few strikes as possible, well think again.
The game of golf is so much more than that. Maintaining a consistent control of the golf club for the duration of 18 rounds demands high standards of flexibility, mobility, stability, and core strength. And if you still don't believe us, have a look at Rory McIlroy's fitness stats from 2015.
Training
1036 Kilometers ran
3300 Lengths swam
6800 Press ups
6720 Minutes spent stretching
6320 Pull ups/Chin ups
640 Kilometers cycled
It's an impressive collection of data but McIlroy wasn't always this focused on his fitness. By his own admission, he had a limited knowledge of the benefits of fitness before embarking on a gym programme.
Back @GSK_HPL today. Helping me monitor how my return from injury is coming along. Thanks guys! pic.twitter.com/TMWZDAEw9T
— Rory Mcilroy (@McIlroyRory) October 1, 2015
And just like every other athlete, McIlroy has the same love/hate relationship with the gym.
There's some weeks where I don't want to go in and then there's other weeks when I'm really keen to get in and improve because for me it's a necessity and it's what I need to do
I couldn't stand on one foot for more than 10 seconds and I couldn't hold the plank for more than 30 seonds. Everyone has to start somewhere and I started from the very beginning to get my body in the best shape possible to go out and play golf'
