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5 Facts About Oleksandr Usyk You Didn’t Know

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Oleksandr Usyk

Oleksandr Usyk (23-0-0, 14 KOs) is a modern-day legend who has become the undisputed champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight weight divisions.

He’s only the third male fighter, after Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue, to achieve this extraordinary feat. He’s has had a career full of achievements, and in 2018, was named Sports Illustrated’s Fighter of the Year.

The Ukrainian boasts spectacular wins against the likes of Anthony Joshua (twice) and Tyson Fury (twice), and is the consensus greatest heavyweight of the modern era. Usyk returns to action on July 19, taking on Daniel Dubois in a rematch at Wembley Stadium in London. With a win, he could once again become the undisputed heavyweight champion.

Apart from his boxing skills, Usyk is quite the character outside the ring. He is a man of many skills and even some hardcore boxing fans might not know some of these facts about Oleksandr Usyk.

Here aref ive interesting things about the 38-year-old Ukrainian.

1. Usyk is an Olympic gold medalist

Long before winning the undisputed titles in professional boxing, Oleksandr Usyk represented Ukraine in the 2012 London Olympics, winning the gold medal in the heavyweight category. Usyk’s future opponent, Anthony Joshua, was also a gold medalist in London 2012, albeit in super heavyweight.

Notably, Usyk also competed in the Beijing Olympics, winning the silver medal in 2008. Usyk started his professional career in 2013 and has never looked back since.

Oleksandr Usyk camp share fears over Tyson Fury fight | DAZN News GB

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2. Usyk played professional soccer before boxing

Boxing has made Usyk a global superstar. However, his athletic career started as a soccer player before he switched to the sweet science back in 2002. Usyk trained with Ukrainian club SC Tavriya Simferopol at a young age.

He returned to Soccer in 2022, training with and even playing for FC Polissya Zhytomyr.

3. Usyk had an extended amateur career

Oleksandr Usyk was a renowned name on the boxing circuit long before turning professional. He had an extended amateur career, managing to amass an impressive record of 335-15. Following his gold medal win in the London 2012 Olympics, Usyk became a professional boxer.

4. Usyk competed in the World Series of Boxing

For a smooth transition from amateur to professional, Oleksandr Usyk competed in the 2012-13 World Series of Boxing. He took part in the heavyweight division and won all of his six fights, with two of those coming by stoppage and four by unanimous decision.

Usyk defeated Junior Fa, Eric Brechlin, Joe Joyce, Magomedrasul Majidov, Matteo Modugno and Mihai Nistor.

5. Usyk co-starred with The Rock

Oleksandr Usyk’s talents are not limited to the boxing ring, as the Ukrainian has made several appearances in movies as well. The Fight Rules, A Tale As Old As Time, Reignited- Can’t Get You Out of My Head, and most recently The Smashing Machine are among the movies he’s appeared in.

Usyk co-starred with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson in the MMA film The Smashing Machine.

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BOXING

Watch Old Sparring Video Of Terence Crawford Sparks Skepticism Ahead Of Canelo Alvarez Fight

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Terence Crawford Canelo Alvarez

Terence Crawford is preparing for the biggest fight of his career, moving up two weight classes to take on undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez.

But an old sparring video is once again sparking debate about his chances to win the mega-fight.

The video shows Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) and current WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames going head-to-head, with Adames getting the better of “Bud” on several exchanges. Now it’s being used by critics as a way to question Crawford’s move to 168 lbs from his current division, 154 lbs.

READ: “He Really Might Pull Out”: Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach Rematch In Jeopardy

The video reportedly dates back to when Crawford was a lightweight (135 lbs), which is a division he hasn’t fought at since 2014. Adames (24-1-1, 18 KOs) was fighting at welterweight (147 lbs) at the time, meaning there was at least a 12 lbs difference between the two boxers.

Despite the video being recorded a long time ago, critics use it as pinning point to why Crawford’s size won’t translate to super-middleweight. “Bud’s” last fight was Aug. 3rd, 2024, where he beat Israil Madrimov by unanimous decision to win the WBA junior middleweight title, his first fight at 154 lbs. Now, he is jumping up 14 more pounds to fight the cash cow of boxing.

Although he has critics, many supporters have defended Crawford, pointing out that sparring sessions don’t really emulate a real fight. Not to mention that sparring is usually the time for fighters to practice and implement new arsenals to their game.

The video may add fuel to the haters, but realistically it’s not a representation of Crawford’s odds against Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs). And on top of that, “Bud” is the rare breed of special boxers that could adapt to any scenario he’s put in. He’s not the No. 3 pound-for-pound in the Ring Magazine rankings for no reason.

Canelo vs Crawford is a fight that mixes the entertainment value of Riyadh Season with the narrative of the best fighting the best. Whatever happens Sept. 13th, let’s hope it lives up to the hype.

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CELEB NEWS

After Upsetting Tiger Woods With Retirement Call, Ex-Rival Tries to Undo Damage With 10-Word Statement

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Tiger Woods

Colin Montgomerie was the European Tour’s answer to Tiger Woods even before Mr. T turned pro.

The Scottish legend dominated the continent and won 31 titles along the way. His incredible record in Europe made everyone think he would destroy the American League. To everyone’s surprise, in the 142 appearances he made, Montgomerie won 0 titles. That doesn’t mean he didn’t come close.

The Scottish legend had 6 runner-ups to his name, 5 of which were in majors. Yet he failed to win any of them. Like any other champion golfer, he was frustrated with Woods. And when the latter was not performing well, Montgomerie didn’t shy throwing shade at him. However, he seems to have had a change of tune since then.

Colin Montgomerie: Tiger should have retired at St Andrews

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Just a few hours ago, he sat down with the crew of Cookie Jar Golf, discussing the impact of Woods during his prime. Commending his incredible dedication and fitness to keep competing, Montgomerie said, “Tiger changed the way golfers thought about themselves as athletes. You can never say that (Jack) Nicholas or (Arnold) Palmer were the best athletes in the world, but you could with Tiger Woods.” Woods was famously known for pushing his physical limits to reach the next level of golf. His fitness routines were so harsh that Michelle Wie West paid the price for them with injuries and early retirement by following them. The 82-time PGA Tour champion has struggled with injuries of his own that forced him off the course.

“They are fitter, stronger, bigger. The athletes, the Brooks Koepkas, the Bryson DeChambeaus, real athletes that can do a lot more than just play golf. Tiger changed that. He changed the way we had to think about what we did,” Montgomerie said, further amplifying the impact of Woods on the current generation of golfers. Nearly all the active players he mentioned idolize Tiger and have grown up watching him write golf history. Some of the fittest players on the course today, like DeChambeau, Koepka, Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, and Ludvig Aberg, were inspired by Woods, and they have openly confessed that. However, each of them has found their own path of fitness to compete at the same level as the 15-time major winner.

It was not just fitness that Tiger Woods made popular. As Colin expressed, “Youngsters were wearing the Nike hats, the whole Nike thing blew from there as well. Golf became cool. People were playing golf all over the world, wanting to be the next Tiger Woods. And it was great for golf. It has sustained, to be honest. We’re talking ’97, we’re talking 30 years ago now, almost, and it has sustained to this day.” As the Scottish legend admitted, Woods made golf cool. So much so that his impact has lasted long after his prime. In fact, Woods still moves the needle enough to be one of the most impactful individuals in golf.

From wanting him to retire due to bad form to confessing that he made the sport what it is today, Montgomerie has certainly come a long way. Well, the 62-year-old may have a moment of clarity after the harsh comments he made about his rival not so long ago. But it may also be because of the furious reaction Tiger Woods had to Colin Montgomerie’s jab last year. Let’s see how Mr. T reacted.

Tiger Woods left fuming with Colin Montgomerie’s comments

Colin Montgomerie saw the opportunity to bash Tiger Woods about his bad form after the latter missed the cuts in the PGA Championship and U.S. Open in 2024. He suggested that the 15-time major winner should consider retiring from golf, a statement he later retracted from saying that it was taken out of context. Nevertheless, the damage had already been done, and Woods was furious about it.

In the press conference for the 2024 Open Championship, he said, “I’ll play as long as I can play, and I feel like I can still win the event. As a past champion, I’m exempt until I’m 60. Colin’s not. He’s not a past champion, so he’s not exempt. So he doesn’t get the opportunity to make that decision. I do. When I get to his age, I get to still make that decision, whereas he doesn’t.” Montgomerie’s comment clearly triggered Woods. However, his response made it clear that he was not looking to retire anytime soon. Hopefully, this still stands true past 2025 as Tiger Woods turns 50 on December 30 and is eligible for the Champions Tour.

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BOXING

(VIDEO) ‘He’s Scared to Death to Fight Again: Manny Pacquiao claims boxing legend and former rival is ‘scared’ to fight in a rematch

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Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao has claimed that former rival and boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr is too scared to agree to a deal for a rematch. 

After years of circling during the peak of their respective careers, Pacquiao and Mayweather finally went head-to-head in May 2015 in a contest which at the time broke pay-per-view records in the United States.

However, for those watching, the long awaited showdown between Mayweather and Pacquiao failed to live up to expectations with the former triumphing by unanimous decision.

Pacquiao eyes brawl with Mayweather in blockbuster exhibition bout | Daily Sabah

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Since then, the two fighters have gone their separate ways with Mayweather retiring from the sport, but still participating in exhibition bouts.

Pacquiao on the other hand is preparing for a comeback following a near four-year retirement and is eager to have a second meeting with Mayweather.

Speaking in an interview with Covers.com, Pacquiao believes it’s his American counterpart who is stopping one of the biggest rematches in boxing from happening.

“I don’t think Floyd Mayweather will fight me again, he’s scared to death to fight again, that’s what I’m thinking,” Pacquiao said.

“It’s a huge fight [between me and Mayweather] but there’s a lot of reasons or alibis for why he didn’t make it [the rematch with me].

“Lots of excuses, I guess.”

While a Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch seems further away than ever, the Filipino’s boxing comeback will come against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas.

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BOXING

“He Really Might Pull Out”: Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach Rematch In Jeopardy

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Gervonta Davis Lamont Roach

The highly anticipated rematch between Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach Jr appears to be hanging in the balance.

It had been reported over the last couple of weeks that ‘Tank’ and Roach were edging towards finalising their second encounter, with rumours circulating that it was due to take place on Saturday August 16 in Las Vegas.

Their first fight, which happened in New York City back in March, ended in controversy after it was declared a majority decision draw, with many believing that Roach had done more than enough to be declared the winner and hand Davis the first defeat of his career.

“He Really Might Pull Out”: Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach Rematch In Jeopardy

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‘Tank’ took a knee to the canvas during round nine after being on the receiving end of a Roach jab, although referee Steve Willis failed to rule this as an official knockdown to effectively squander Roach’s chances of dethroning Davis in what would have been a major upset.

With both fighters going back and forth across social media recently, it is now being speculated that the rematch could be on the verge of falling through as revealed by Roach on social media, where he claims Davis ‘might pull out of the fight’.

An official announcement on the rematch is expected to be made soon, although it remains to be seen whether the fight will actually go ahead as planned in just six weeks time.

Another option for Davis, should the rematch fall through, could come against Youtuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, with the duo said to be in negotiations for a potential clash before the end of the year.

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CELEB NEWS

‘It’s awkward for me’ – Venus Williams’ bra once broke Wimbledon’s strict uniform rules

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Venus Williams

When it comes to tennis, Venus Williams has been there, done it, and got the t-shirt.

The seven-time Grand Slam winner is one of the greatest players in the history of the game.

But even she was not aware of one particular Wimbledon rule and found out the hard way during a match at the prestigious Grand Slam.

READ: Venus Williams was told her uterine fibroid symptoms were ‘normal’—here’s what she wants you to know

Venus Williams, a five time champion on the hallowed grass at SW19, violated Wimbledon’s strict ‘all-white’ rule when she sported a hot pink bra during a win over Elise Mertens in the first round of the 2017 championships.

The vibrant bra straps, which were clearly on show, broke The All England Lawn Tennis Club’s (AELTC) rules that players must wear an entirely white outfit, including undergarments.

“Any undergarments that either are or can be visible during play (including due to perspiration) must also be completely white except for a single trim of colour no wider than one centimetre (10mm)”.

After a short rain delay, Venus reappeared from the locker room in a different bra and top.

She was later asked about the incident, commenting: “Yeah, so I don’t want to talk about undergarments. It’s kind of awkward for me. I’ll leave that to you. You can talk about it with your friends. I’m going to pass.”

If it makes Venus feel any better, she’s not the only Williams sister to fall foul of Wimbledon’s rigid rules.

23-time Grand Slam singles champion and little sister Serena flouted the rules in 2019 during a 6-2 6-2 win over Carla Saurez Navarro on Court 1.

It was a routine victory that served up a unique moment when Serena broke an unusual rule and forfeited a point.

In the seventh game of the first set, Williams leaned over the net to hit a volley and was immediately penalised by the umpire who awarded the point to Navarro.

Venus' pink bra broke Wimbledon's 'all-white' rule

“[My racquet] was definitely over but I thought that was OK?” Serena asked.

However, according to the ITF’s rule 24, a player loses a point if “the player hits the ball before it has passed the net” – which is why the umpire correctly gave the point to Navarro.

“I definitely didn’t realise it was a rule,” Williams admitted afterwards.

“But I absolutely did have my hand over, so she definitely made the right call. I feel like I may have done that before like in doubles.

“I’m glad [that it got called] because I don’t want to make that mistake in our ‘Murena’ [the nickname for her doubles partnership with Andy Murray] doubles match. I’m glad that happened here.”

“I don’t think about it. I guess it should be on your side of the court,” she went on when asked about her thoughts on the rule.

“I guess if it bounced on your side and flipped back over, then you can reach over. That’s what I was thinking of.

“But it didn’t bounce on my side and go back over, so yeah, I think it’s a good rule. It’s tennis. I should know the rules.”

The Williams sisters are undeniable trailblazers and fashion icons, with Serena in particular pushing the boundaries over the years.

She forced a French Open rule change with her all-black ‘superhero’outfit in 2018 and on several occasions skirted with breaking the outfit rules at Wimbledon.

Williams caused a stir in 2012 when she sported a purple headband during her first two rounds at Wimbledon.

All outfits are inspected prior to the tournament, and the referee has the final say on the fashion choice the day of the match. They obviously felt Serena’s bold headband didn’t break any rules.

She also wore a pair of hot pink tie-dye leggings during 2011 while taking a few serves on the practice court.

Fortunately for Williams, Wimbledon’s all-white dress code doesn’t apply to warm-ups, and she got away with it.

The often infuriatingly meticulous all-white rules have been the subject of debate for years, with Andre Agassi infamously boycotting Wimbledon for three years to avoid following them.

Roger Federer was also warned about the orange soles on his shoes but it’s a tradition that dates back years.

This year’s tournament will be played over 14 days from Monday 30 June-Sunday 13 July.

Carlos Alcaraz is the defending men’s champion after defeating Novak Djokovic in last year’s dramatic final, a rematch of 2023’s showpiece year which ended with the same result.

Barbora Krejčíková beat Jasmine Paolini in the 2024 women’s final.

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BOXING

Shocking Details Reportedly Reveal What Julio Cesar Chavez Jr Did For Mexican Cartel

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Julio Cesar Chavez Jr

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr was arrested by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) days after his defeat to Jake Paul.

The Mexican was taken into custody due to his outstanding warrant in Mexico and allegations that he’s affiliated with the Sinaloa Drug Cartel.

The July 2 arrest took place in California and per an official statement by the Department of Homeland Security, his deportation process is under way.

Julio César Chávez Jr. News - Latest Julio César Chávez Jr. News, Stats & Updates

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Mexico’s Attorney General’s office, known as FGR, has now released more details about the former WBC middleweight champion. And per reports from mimorelia.com, he was a soldier and enforcer for ‘El Nini’ Nestor Ernesto Perez Salas.

According to information gathered from tapped phone calls between December 2021 and June 2022, he was reportedly directed by ‘El Nini’ to beat up captured rival members. The rivals were tied up and hung from the ceiling for Chavez to beat as if they were a punching bag.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr’s immigration records were also released by US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Records reveal that he entered the USA in June 2023 on a legal visa, but it expired in February 2024. Chavez Jr applied for permanent resident status based on his marriage with American citizen Frida Munoz, who happens to be a former partner of Sinaloa Cartel head Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman’s son.

Back in December 2024, Chavez Jr was billed as an ‘egregious public safety threat’ by authorities, but was allowed to enter the United States again in January 2025, through the San Ysidro port in California.

Chavez Jr has several criminal convictions against him. He was charged with drunk driving in 2012 and January 2024, and was also convicted of illegal assault weapon possession.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr’s arrest took place in Studio City, Los Angeles, a high-end neighborhood that’s mainly home to celebrities. His family have since released a statement:

We are completely confident in his innocence and quality as a human – as well as in the justice systems of both Mexico and the US. We hope this situation will resolve itself according to the law and the truth.

Chavez Jr’s father, Julio Cesar Chavez, is widely considered one of the greatest Mexican boxers of all time. Chavez Jr, meanwhile, won the WBC middleweight title in 2011 and defended it four times. He lost to Jake Paul via unanimous decision in his most recent outing.

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GOLF

Rory McIlroy Made Coach Suspicious After Breaking Course Record at Major Venue

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Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy is one of golf’s true legends, a five-time major champion, and one of only six men in history to complete the career Grand Slam.

His first taste of major glory came in 2011 when he blew away the field at the U.S. Open. He followed it up with two PGA Championship titles in 2012 and 2014, and a win at The Open that same year.

For over a decade, Augusta remained the missing piece of a course that brought him both heartbreak and hope. That changed in 2025 when he finally slipped on the Green Jacket in a dramatic playoff to join the most exclusive club in golf. But before the world knew his name, there was a teenage boy from Northern Ireland doing the impossible at Royal Portrush.

Rory McIlroy's PGA silence turned celebration into confusion

READ: Rory McIlroy’s Masters win solved one problem but created another

“He shot a mere 61, broke the course record by three shots at Royal Portrush and uh, astounded everyone, including uh, his parents,” said Timothy Gay, author of Rory’s Land. At just 16 years old, Rory McIlroy did something at Royal Portrush that golfers twice his age could only dream of: he shot a staggering 61, breaking the course record by three shots. For a teenager, still technically a kid, to go that low on such a demanding course was beyond rare; it was unprecedented. That was the moment his parents and much of the golf world realized Rory wasn’t just gifted. He was generational. But his parents were not the only ones he stunned that day.

“When Michael Bannon got the call that night at home… Bannon thought the guy on the other end was pulling his leg,” said Gay, It wasn’t just disbelief, but it was complete shock. For someone who had coached Rory since the age of 8, Bannon knew the kid had talent, but a 61 at Royal Portrush? That was almost unthinkable, especially from a teenager. According to Gay, it wasn’t just the number, but rather how Rory got there: a stretch of birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie that left even experienced golfers speechless. The bond between Rory and Bannon has always been more than coach and student, but that night, even he had to pause and let it sink in.

“Rory, uh, an absolutely incredible moment. It is one of probably the three or four most famous amateur rounds of golf ever shot,” said Gay. Now, Rory McIlroy gets another shot. The Open, the championship every golfer dreams of, returns to Royal Portrush from July 17 to 20, and with it comes a rare chance to rewrite history on the course where it all began. Back in 2005, a 16-year-old Rory stunned the golf world by shooting a record-breaking 61. That round didn’t win him a trophy, but it cemented something deeper, a connection to Portrush that still lingers nearly two decades later.

“That is what made him a phenomenon not just in Ireland and Europe but, uh, all over the world,” He was just a fearless kid then. Now, with 18 years of experience as a professional and a career Grand Slam under his belt, he walks into Portrush not just as a contender but as someone with unfinished business.

Now, Rory being Rory, he’s always been one to make history. That may have been his first, but he’s been breaking records ever since.

The Record-Breaking Start at the Augusta…

At the 2025 Masters, Rory McIlroy once again showed the world what he’s made of this time by making history right from the first tee. In his third round on Saturday, he opened with an unbelievable run of six straight 3s on the scorecard, something no player had ever done in Masters history. Birdies on the first, third, fifth, and sixth, plus a spectacular eagle on the second, had him tearing through Augusta like never before. It wasn’t just good golf, it was a record-breaking charge that stunned even seasoned fans of the game.

That electric front nine wasn’t just about numbers; it set the stage for something far bigger. By the end of the day, McIlroy had taken the lead in a tournament that had haunted him for over a decade. And this time, he didn’t let it slip. That blazing start became the launchpad for his long-awaited Masters win that earned him the career Grand Slam, the holy grail in golf. In true Rory fashion, history didn’t just happen. He made it happen!

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Rory McIlroy’s Masters win solved one problem but created another

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Rory McIlroy

Jack Nicklaus said what many were thinking after Rory McIlroy won the Masters: “It will take the world off his shoulders and you’re now going to see a lot more of really good golf out of Rory McIlroy,” Nicklaus said during the CBS broadcast.

After 11 years of trying to complete the Grand Slam, McIlroy had finally done it. He would be unstoppable, right?

But that isn’t what has happened. The weeks and months after McIlroy’s Masters win have been uneven. In May, he finished T-47 at the PGA Championship, where it was leaked that his driver had been tested and deemed non-conforming. He didn’t speak to the press after any of the rounds at the PGA Championship. When he did talk after the third round of the U.S. Open in June, he wasn’t happy.

Rory McIlroy wins the Masters: Six moments that secured the Green Jacket - BBC Sport

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“I feel like I’ve earned the right to do whatever I want to do, yeah,” McIlroy said of skipping media.

At Oakmont, McIlroy slammed clubs and broke a tee marker. When he made the cut by a shot, he joked about his indifference to being there.

“It’s much easier being on the cut line when you don’t really care if you’re here for the weekend or not,” he said, chuckling.

After a final-round 67 to finish T-19, McIlroy again spoke to the media—this time, about motivation.

“If I can’t get motivated to get up for an Open Championship at home, then I don’t know what can motivate me,” McIlroy said of the final major of the year to be played at Royal Portrush in his native Northern Ireland in July. “As I said, I just need to get myself in the right frame of mind. I probably haven’t been there the last few weeks.”

“I climbed my Everest in April, and I think after you do something like that, you’ve got to make your way back down, and you’ve got to look for another mountain to climb,” McIlroy said. “An Open at Portrush is certainly one of those.”

McIlroy’s talk about a lack of motivation feels unexpected in part because of how different it is from the last player to complete the Grand Slam. After Tiger Woods won the Open Championship at St. Andrews in 2000 to complete the Grand Slam, he went on to win the next two majors.

Although Woods and McIlroy’s reactions and results after completing their Slams were very different, McIlroy’s isn’t completely unexpected, sports psychologist Dr. Deborah Graham, says. Dr. Graham has spent decades working with and studying professional golfers. She says what we’ve seen with McIlroy could be a bit of “post-success melancholy.” Maybe you’ve heard of it in reference to Olympians, and the lulls some athletes experience when the Games are over,

McIlroy’s completion of the Grand Slam was unlike Woods’ experience given where each were in their careers. Woods was just 24 years old, and achieved the goal relatively quicky. He didn’t have to spend 11 years listening to speculation. With McIlroy, meanwhile, it was a persistent focus, which carries even a risk even when successful.

“Some people call it post-success downer or post-success melancholy where you’ve had a single goal, a single purpose, and it’s not exactly single but it feels like it because that’s what everyone wants to talk about,” Dr. Graham says. “I can picture him having that as a very big target for quite some time. And like he said, when you reach a goal, you have to find something to replace it with, otherwise it leaves a void.”

By saying he needs another mountain to climb, McIlroy is addressing the fact that after the Masters, he didn’t have a plan. And he’s the type of player who appears to need to have a goal solidly in place to prepare and play his best.

The way to address this void, and find something new to replace it with, would be to take some time, Dr. Graham says. But the schedule didn’t allow for that. McIlroy played in two majors in the two months following the Masters. Taking all of this into account, McIlroy’s uncharacteristic comments and club slams start to make a bit more sense.

“We don’t even think about it, but when we reach a major goal, we kind of lose that sense of purpose,” Dr. Graham said.

When your goal is based on a result, there is an emptiness that can follow achieving that result. This highlights one of Woods’ superpowers. When he talks about golf, he emphasizes finding a reward in the work.

“The enjoyment is going out there and working for it, and grinding it out and going toe-to-toe with two of the best players in the world,” Woods said after the 2001 Masters. “David (Duval) and Phil (Mickelson), playing really well, to go toe-to-toe with them, that is work, but that’s what it’s all about. That’s the fun of it. And to have that challenge, whether you win or not, that’s why we play, to be able to experience that. That, to me, is the reason why I practice, to have that feeling, coming down the stretch knowing that you have to hit golf shots against the best players and somehow be able to do it.”

The power in this is that this work will always exist. No matter how many tournaments Woods wins, the work is always there. That’s why in the wake of winning his Slam, Woods was calm, collected, and ready to win the next two majors. It was all part of a process he enjoyed.

What McIlroy is going through is different. One response isn’t right and one isn’t wrong; McIlroy might just need some more time.

And luckily, now he’ll get it.

The week after Oakmont, McIlroy went to Connecticut to play in the Travelers Championship. He shot rounds of 64-71-68-65 and talked about feeling more confident with his driver. And said he’ll be going back to the United Kingdom and taking a couple weeks off before playing the Scottish and then the Open Championship.

“I think more so than anything else it will just be good for me mentally to take a little bit of a break and, yeah, as I said, get back to my neck of the woods, get back to the U.K. for a little bit, excited for that. I’ve alluded to the fact I probably haven’t taken enough time off or time to reflect after what happened in April, so I’m excited to do a little bit of that over these next two weeks,” McIlroy said after his final round in Connecticut.

What McIlroy is talking about wanting is exactly what Dr. Graham would prescribe.

“After you’ve had time to just enjoy it and do something completely different, get some balance back, then just take a little time and redefine your purpose,” Dr. Graham says. “What is my mission here? Some players have to even go back and say, Why am I competing? And then find that motivating goal. And then structure their life around that.”

Just because McIlroy has felt a bit unlike himself after completing the Slam doesn’t mean he’ll feel that way forever.

“I thought my life or maybe the way I thought about myself would change when I got in the Hall of Fame and did a lot of the things I wanted to do before it actually happened, and I’m sure Rory is thinking the same in similar parts, where everybody was like, Oh, Masters is the one he was missing. Like, what if? And then he did it. And as much as I’m sure he’s so happy and relieved, he’s just as good the day before he won it,” Ko said. “I think that’s what I realized most, and that’s what made me realize I’ve still got to go out there and practice and put in the time to play well the week after.”

“We’re greedy in that sense, like nothing will fulfill us fully until we’re done,” Ko continued. “I think that’s the reason why we play. That’s why he’s at his level because of his competitiveness.”

There’s no right or wrong reaction to achieving a long-term goal. There’s just the reality of what certain personalities experience. McIlroy’s experience isn’t what was expected. He doesn’t look like a man who’s had the weight of the world lifted from his shoulders, ready to win any tournament he enters. Yet.

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Rory McIlroy has already offered Bryson DeChambeau a solution to LIV Golf problem

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Rory McIlroy Bryson DeChambeau

One of the most recognised members of the Saudi-backed breakaway league, two-time U.S. Open winner DeChambeau heads the Crushers GC team with LIV. And while he has enjoyed individual success under the banner, he wants fans to invest more in the team aspect of LIV instead of solely focusing on individuals.

Speaking about his hopes for the future last month, the 31-year-old who has three LIV titles to his name said: “The game of golf is ready for change. We continue to hope to see golf move in this team direction.

“Obviously the game will always be an individual sport. We’ll always play for individual titles. But why not have a team aspect as well to it?

Rory McIlroy v Bryson DeChambeau driving distance stats | Golf Monthly

READ: Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll’s relationship could break down again for one major reason

“Why can’t we have more fun together? Why can’t we build something special? Why can’t we influence and inspire the next generation of golfers as a team?

“We want people to have that fandom like you have with the Lakers, like you have with the Yankees and stuff. It’s going to take time. We all know that.

“And the people that are looking at us going, ‘What is this, why is it even a thing?’ Well, the Yankees had to start somewhere, the Lakers had to start somewhere, and we’re just at the inception. This is only three years in now.”

As it stands, LIV golf has both singles and teams leaderboards for each event. However, the team leaderboard is just an accumulation of individual performances at the end of an event – with the lowest scoring player and lowest scoring combined team winning.

That’s barring the LIV Golf Team Championship, of course, which is held as a four-round match play knockout tournament in which teams face off. And McIlroy believes that a change to the format to incorporate teams actually going head-to-head consistently rather than once a year could change the game in terms of how people view LIV Golf.

Speaking about the current set-up, the 36-year-old said: “Look, I always felt like LIV’s best chance was to try to replicate their team championship for the teams to go head-to-head together instead of they all just go out and play and they add their scores up at the end of the day.

“I don’t think that gets people going. But I think when the teams go head-to-head like they do in their team championship in wherever, Dallas or whenever it was last year, I think that has a possibility of working. Instead of that maybe being once a year and then these stroke play events, could you reduce the stroke play events and do more of that a few times a year.

“I think that is a way — because especially if these guys are going to come back and play, I don’t want to say real, they play real golf but more like championship individual golf, then is there more of an opportunity for these teams to go more head-to-head because I think that makes for a more compelling product, at least in my eyes. I’m just one person.”

It comes as McIlroy and DeChambeau will meet once more on the course this year at the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush later this month. No strangers to the trials and tribulations of a major championship, the PGA Tour pro and the LIV Golf star were pitted off with one another for the final round of the Masters back in April.

During that round at Augusta National, McIlroy refused to speak to his opponent until he had putted his final ball on the famed 18th hole. McIlroy ultimately went on to win his first Masters title and clinch the Career Grand Slam during that tournament, following a tense play-off with Justin Rose.

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