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A Delicate Balance in Golf: Technicality vs. Mentality

By Brendon Elliott, PGA
Published on

In his post victory press conference last week at the Wells Fargo Championship, Rory McIlroy shared this… “It’s OK telling yourself mentally to be strong and mentally play with freedom, but, if you can't make a swing to hit a fairway, it's very difficult, so you need to get the technical part right. Then you can dial in the mental. That's sort of the process that I've been on. I've spent some time with Bob Rotella over the last couple of months. But Pete (Cowen) would always say, if I don't do my job right, Bob can’t do his right.”
As a coach, it's easy for me to say to a student to keep your head in the game or trust the process, or any other similar notion that helps them from a mental standpoint. The reality is that this is a tough task for any golfer, no matter what their ability level, to do…even the best in the world like Rory Mcllroy.
The things that separate the best in the world from the average golfer are many but the things the average golfer can learn from the best in the world are many as well. What Rory said in this quote is telling on many levels and that was what I wanted to share today.
Being Mentally Strong…
Having a strong and positive mental outlook and attitude will always serve a golfer well. There is no denying that. However, as Rory said, if you are not swinging a swing that can hit a fairway, you can’t mentally get yourself out of that. Being strong mentally in golf does require you to also be realistic about where your game is currently at. Having realistic expectations of what you are capable of on the golf course or while developing an aspect of your game is a must. Knowing that certain steps and incremental accomplishments need to happen as you evolve as a golfer is especially important in reaching any goal you may have. Accepting failure as part of the process is all part of becoming mentally strong and will also help as you fine tune a mechanical aspect of your game.
Technical and Mental go Hand-in-Hand…
As Rory said, you can’t have one aspect firing on all cylinders if the other isn’t. Working on your mechanics and your mental in unison is the recipe for advancing your game forward. The mechanical requires repetition and practice over time and the mental requires you to go through failures, sometimes many, to make you strong enough to get through bumps in the road throughout the course of a round.
Regardless of if you are working with a Swing Coach as Rory does with Pete Cowen, or a Mental Guru like Bob Rotella, or not, you will be well served to find a good balance of working on both aspects, mechanical and mental, in unison within your own game.
Looking for more great coaching content? Visit www.pga.com/pga-coaching-live during the PGA Championship to tune into PGA Coaching Live presented by Cadillac. 
Brendon R. Elliott, PGA

Sorrento, FL

Brendon Elliott

Director of Instruction, Freelance Golf Writer

[Brendon Elliott, PGA](https://brendonelliott.com/), is an award-winning PGA Professional, player-development coach and nationally recognized golf writer with three decades of experience in the golf industry. As of 2026, he has been a PGA Professional for 17 years and has earned more than 25 PGA Section and Chapter honors for his work in coaching, education and player development. In 2017, he received the PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. ## Coaching Competitive Teenage Golfers Through [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home), Brendon specializes in working with competitive teenage golfers who want to improve their performance, better understand their games and prepare for the demands of high school, junior tournament and college golf. His primary focus is [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching), which allows him to remain actively involved in a player’s development regardless of location. Rather than relying on occasional lessons or isolated swing fixes, Brendon works with players throughout their competitive journey. His coaching covers much more than the golf swing. Players receive ongoing guidance in structured practice, short-game development, putting, course management, tournament preparation, performance analysis, goal setting and the mental and physical habits required to improve over time. Using video analysis, virtual coaching sessions, performance data and regular communication, Brendon helps each player understand what to work on, why it matters and how to make meaningful progress between practices and tournaments. Brendon accepts only a limited number of in-person students in Central Florida. His priority is building long-term [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching) relationships with competitive teenage golfers and their families. The goal is not simply to help a young player hit better shots. It is to help that player become more prepared, more accountable and more capable of navigating everything competitive golf demands. Brendon’s career has included serving as a head golf professional, general manager, college golf educator, career development director, academy owner and longtime junior golf leader. He founded Little Linksters Golf Academy in 2008 and led the organization for more than 16 years before selling the academy in late 2024 and launching [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home). ## Golf Writing and Media Brendon is also a nationally recognized and prolific golf writer and storyteller. He is the Senior Golf Writer for [Athlon Sports](https://athlonsports.com/author/brendon-elliott) and has written extensively about professional golf, instruction, player development, equipment, golf history and the people shaping the game. His work has also appeared with PGA.com, GolfWRX, PGA Magazine, MyGolfSpy and several other prominent golf media outlets. Through [One More Roll Golf Media](https://onemorerollgolf.com/), Brendon provides editorial content, feature writing, consulting and media services throughout the golf industry. His background as a coach and educator shapes the way he writes, while his work as a writer strengthens the way he coaches. He understands how to explain complicated ideas clearly, ask better questions and connect the technical, strategic and personal sides of golf.

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