My Fitness

As a crucial part of my team I started working with a South African physiotherapist, Cornel Driessen since August 2009 while Dr. Steve MacGregor looked after my biomechanics for the past year. Combining Steve's excellent High-Tech sport-science lab results and off tour training programs with Cornel's training and approach on tour, I really saw my body and game taking a big leap forward. I had to ask Cornel what exactly he would call his approach, as it is completely different to what I've experienced in the past.

In short he called it "golf-specific performance enhancement therapy," which is the same approach he uses on Rory McIlroy and his other golfers, but says he obviously adapts it to each individual golfers' biomechanics and swing. He said he likes to think of it as  "hybrid" physiotherapy, also giving credit to  various other modalities from different therapy schools he finds effective and then applying it through a golf specific protocol he developed of which strength and conditioning is also a crucial part. He continuously screens me, correcting movement patterns, posture and alignment, muscle recruitment etc, aiming to optimize my biomechanics by addressing the weak points in my movement chain. We adapt my warm ups and strength & conditioning programs accordingly.  This means we have been focusing a lot on core, range of movement in certain segments and gaining better muscle control. This added more stability and comfort during my swing, allowing me to keep a better rhythm.

Off tour I have to admit I'm a bit lazy at times, Cornel keeps motivating me as we're making gradual changes to my lifestyle on the bits that needs it. But I find it a lot easier to commit myself to correcting my diet and following the strength and conditioning programs now that I've experienced the results first hand! You have to believe in something to be able to do it whole-heartedly you know!