EVERY SHOT STARTS WITH YOUR BREATH
KB: One of the best parts of the job has been getting to know the guys better. In the back of my mind, I’m always thinking I will be the one to make that call they don’t want to receive, a call I’ve had to receive. That’s especially hard when maybe they’ve been on the previous two or three or even five teams. When making the team becomes normal, you expect it’s coming. I now know why general managers on sports teams don’t get close to players – they might have to trade them, cut them, end their careers. Obviously, it’s not that drastic, but the Ryder Cup is something that can define us as professionals, and I’m the per- son telling them the dream isn’t coming true this year. I’m a player, too. When I got that call about Rome, I understood that I didn’t make the team on points, and if you leave it up to someone else, it’s al- ways a possibility. GD: After the 2023 Ryder Cup, there was a sense, maybe exacerbated by the Netflix documentary
So much about performing well under pressure comes down to breathing. It’s something my coach, Darren May, and I talk about often. Before every round, I do a breathing exercise that takes 10 minutes. If you watch me closely, you’ll notice that the start of my routine before every shot begins by simply placing my hand on my stomach for a brief moment. It’s a reminder to breathe more deeply using my diaphragm rather than just my chest. The idea is to slow your heart rate and get in the right mental space to execute a shot.
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 53
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025
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