Published by IMG Audio
Why Golf brings you the latest thought-provoking perspectives and discussion, from influential and experienced characters, within and around the golf industry. Fuelled by insights from the brand new thisiswhygolf.com platform, we explore and challenge opinions on the hot topics within the sport. Why Golf is presented by Skyscanner.
Listen on Apple Podcasts44 min
Why do Nelly Korda and Charley Hull love the Solheim Cup so much? How is Georgia Hall finding returning to golf after the birth of her son? Why does Lauren Coughlin consider herself a ‘late bloomer’ on tour? This episode of Why Golf answers all those questions and more as we head to the ISPS Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald Links! Gabbie Partington is chatting to World Number One Nelly Korda, one of the most exciting golfers on the globe Lottie Woad, Solheim Cup rivals Maja Stark and Lauren Coughlin and many more. Find out how the elite players in the game are approaching the end of the season, including an opportunity to claim two of the big remaining trophies of the year - the AIG Women’s Open and the Solheim Cup. Plus, Gabbie delves into what the progression route is like for those looking to turn professional, with recently turned pro Hannah Darling, and someone looking to do just that in the next few weeks, Kiara Romero. The Why Golf podcast is brought to you by Skyscanner. 00:00 - Introduction 01:34 - Kiara Romero 07:55 - Hannah Darling 13:10 - Lottie Woad 15:32 - Charley Hull 17:05 - Nelly Korda 21:50 - Georgia Hall 28:26 - Chiara Tamburlini 32:47 - Gemma Dryburgh 34:08 - Maja Stark 39:09 - Lauren Coughlin
2 min
A brand new episode of the Why Golf podcast is on the way soon - recorded at the Women's Scottish Open 2026! Gabbie Partington is in for Di Stewart, and will be speaking to, amongst others, the World Number 5 and defending champion Lottie Woad! Here's a sneak preview ahead of the full episode dropping on Monday 27th July. Find more Why Golf content on Instagram, and find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer 📲 https://www.thisiswhygolf.com The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.
39 min
One of the world's leading cricketers, England spinner Sophie Ecclestone, joins us on the Why Golf podcast to talk about her passion for a game that’s quite different to the one she competes in professionally! Fresh from being named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year, Sophie reflects on her remarkable rise in the game, England's hopes of lifting a World Cup on home soil, and what it's like playing in front of packed crowds around the world. She also opens up about a difficult period away from the cricket pitch, why golf became her "safe space" during that time, and the friendship she found through the sport when she needed it most. Plus, Sophie reveals how she first caught the golf bug during the covid pandemic, why she feels more nervous standing on the first tee than bowling for England, and why she thinks golf might actually be harder than cricket! 00:00 Introduction06:00 Playing for England, The Hundred, IPL & More08:23 England's T20 World Cup and Home Crowd Advantage10:27 Life on Tour and Travelling the World11:22 Why Business Class Has Made Sophie a Snob!12:25 Cricket Role Models and Inspiring the Next Generation13:25 How Sophie Fell in Love with Golf During Covid15:02 Why Sophie Has Banished Her Driver17:21 Why Golf Is the Hardest Sport She's Ever Played20:58 Why So Many Athletes Become Obsessed with Golf21:53 Golf as a Safe Space22:34 Mental Health, Recovery and the Friend Golf Gave Her25:55 Why Golf Creates More Pressure Than Playing for England26:58 First Tee Nerves and Watching the Solheim Cup28:55 What Cricket and Golf Can Learn From Each Other29:37 Team Culture, Friendship and Winning30:14 The Best Golf Courses Sophie Has Played Worldwide32:37 If Sophie Could Play Golf Anywhere Tomorrow...33:05 Dream Fourball: Justin Bieber, Michael Jackson & More35:24 Sophie's Dream Golf Superpower36:46 Solheim Cup Predictions37:29 Sophie's Why Golf?
55 min
Whether you’re a golfer or simply interested in the psychology of high performance, this conversation reveals why the mind might be the most important club in the bag. In this episode of Why Golf, Di Stewart sits down with legendary sports psychologist Dr Bob Rotella — the man behind more than 70 major championship victories and trusted by the likes of Rory McIlroy, Pádraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and many more. Together, they explore the mental side of elite performance — from confidence and fear to handling pressure on the biggest stage. Bob shares powerful insights and stories from inside the game, including the mindset that helped shape major champions, and why learning to “forget” may be one of the most important skills in golf. What really separates the best golfers in the world? Dr Bob Rotella has some of the answers. Find more Why Golf content on Instagram, and find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer 📲 https://www.thisiswhygolf.com The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner. 0:00 Introduction 1:54 How Golf Has Changed Over Time 3:49 The Rise of Sports Psychology in Golf 5:04 Confidence, Pressure & Winning Mindsets 7:57 Padraig Harrington: Learning to Believe 9:10 Why Winning Doesn’t Always Build Confidence 10:17 Fear, Mistakes & Letting Go 11:39 Playing Outside the “Zone” 12:24 Mindlessness vs Mindfulness Explained 13:40 Dealing with Setbacks (and “Scar Tissue”) 15:00 Dreams vs Goals: Creating Your Own Reality 19:17 Competition, Mindset & Learning from Others 22:19 Why Loving the Game Matters Most 24:03 Visualisation & “Instant Amnesia” 27:30 Training Your Mind Under Pressure 28:56 Handling Expectations & External Pressure 30:12 Dealing with Failure & Building Resilience 32:32 Working with Rory McIlroy 33:26 Letting Go of Bad Shots 35:19 Reframing Mistakes at the Highest Level 37:48 Rory McIlroy: The Bounceback Masters Mentality 42:10 Mental Skills Across Different Sports 44:18 Leadership & Team Dynamics (Ryder Cup) 45:47 Match Play vs Stroke Play Mindset 49:09 Differences in Men’s & Women’s Golf 52:11 Bob Rotella's: Why Golf
44 min
Why Golf is back! For the first episode of the new series, Di Stewart is catching up with a woman who is hoping to make the Team Europe roster for this autumn's Solheim Cup - Mimi Rhodes. She details the whirlwind journey she’s been on since turning pro, and the reality of life on tour when she’s travelling the globe. Mimi also reveals that she almost chose tennis over golf, and the joy she finds in playing golf with different generations of her family - something she highlights you can’t do in any other sport. Plus, with this year’s Solheim Cup on the horizon, Mimi reveals the burning desire she has to be selected, as the all important rankings get closer to being finalised, and European captain Anna Nordqvist makes her crucial captain’s picks. Find more Why Golf content on Instagram, and find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer 📲 https://www.thisiswhygolf.com The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner. 00:00 - Introduction 03:10 - Mimi’s reflects on her whirlwind couple of years since turning professional 06:54 - Justin & Kate Rose’s support for women’s golf 09:15 - What it was like to be part of the Curtis Cup win 12:33 - Growing up and playing golf across the world 16:32 - The beauty of golf to play with different generations 17:45 - Dealing with pressure & tour life 26:27 - Does she consider herself a ‘Solheim Cup contender’? 35:24 - Mimi assesses her 2026 so far 38:13 - Mimi’s role models 39:11 - Mimi is now a Skyscanner ambassador! 40:06 - Rapid fire questions41:39 - This or That?42:21 - What is Mimi’s Why Golf?43:20 - How important would it be to make the Solheim Cup team?43:54 - See you next time!
47 min
For the final episode of series 3, Di is joined by one of the busiest people in golf – content creator and golf personality Tisha Alyn! Tisha explains what it was like giving up her pro career to turn her attention to social media full time, and the massive success she’s had since then. From producing several viral videos to setting up her own clothing brand, investing in Los Angeles Golf Club and TGL and hosting her own podcast, Tisha tells Di she’s never afraid of a new challenge. Plus, find out what she makes of how the diversity of golf has improved in recent years, and why she’s expecting the 2026 Solheim Cup in the Netherlands to be bigger than ever! Find more Why Golf content on Instagram, and find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer 📲 https://www.thisiswhygolf.com The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.
48 min
DP World & PGA Tour winner Matt Wallace joins Di Stewart on the latest episode of Why Golf! Matt explains what it was like to narrowly miss out on Ryder Cup selection again in 2025 and his ambition to play in 2027 at Adare Manor. He also talks about what it was like to burst onto the professional golf scene with several wins in his first few seasons, and the methods he uses to bounce back from adversity on the golf course. Plus, Matt reveals his close friendship with Justin Rose, someone he calls a mentor, and how important his parents were in his sporting journey. Find more Why Golf content on Instagram, and find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer 📲 https://www.thisiswhygolf.com The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.
43 min
Di Stewart is at the BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am for the latest episode of Why Golf, ahead of the 2025 Ryder Cup next week in New York! European player and former winner, Shane Lowry, joins the show for a chat with Gabbie Partington about his hopes for the tournament, the current vibes in the European team's camp, and his plan for dealing with the inevitable hostile atmosphere at Bethpage. Di also speaks to some of the celebrities involved in the Pro-Am event, including former England football captain Steph Houghton, influencer Peter Finch, TV presenters Dan Walker & Natalie Pinkham, former Red Bull mechanic Calum Nicholas and professional golfer Dan Brown. Find more Why Golf content on Instagram, and find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer 📲 https://www.thisiswhygolf.com The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.
36 min
Just hours after flying back from this year’s Lions Tour in Australia, former England international and Lion himself Anthony Watson joins Di Stewart for a chat on Why Golf! They discuss success for Andy Farrell’s side Down Under, and Anthony gives an insight into what it was like not being involved in this year’s tour. After thinking he’d never take up golf, Anthony also describes how he’s now become ‘addicted’ to the sport, that it’s taught him patience on a whole new level, and analyses why so many athletes from other sports take up golf in retirement. Plus, what can rugby learn from golf to ensure the sport’s success in future years? Find more Why Golf content on Instagram, and find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer 📲 https://www.thisiswhygolf.com The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.
1 hr 0 min
This week, we’ve flown to Southern Spain and Real Club Valderrama to meet the biggest golf YouTuber on the planet – Rick Shiels! He tells guest host Gabbie Partington how he first got into golf in Manchester, before his career trajectory changed dramatically when he set up a YouTube channel – initially to encourage golfers to book lessons with him! Rick also gives an honest assessment of his decision to become a LIV ambassador, despite initial reservations about the tour, and shares what it was like having backlash from his followers after the news was announced. Then we look ahead to the future – could shorter format competitions of only 12 holes a round become the norm? And what is being done to encourage golfers who have taken up the sport, but not reached an elite level, to continue? Rick’s become one of the most influential voices in the modern game – find out how in this episode! Find more Why Golf content on Instagram , and watch this episode on YouTube here . To find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer, head to thisiswhygolf.com . Submit your messages to the team here ! The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.
36 min
This week on Why Golf, Di Stewart is catching up with 2-time tour winner and Mum-to-be Annabel Dimmock! They meet each other at Sunningdale Heath Golf Club, where Annabel reveals how anxious she was to tell her sponsors about her pregnancy and some of the hurtful comments she received from social media users after revealing she was expecting. She also explains how hard it was like returning from surgery to remove a bone in her hand and highlights just how far women’s golf fashion has come in the last few years! Find more Why Golf content on Instagram , and watch this episode on YouTube here . To find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer, head to thisiswhygolf.com . Submit your messages to the team here ! The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.
44 min
Di is back and is joined by Kate Rose for the latest episode of Why Golf! After meeting her now husband, major winner Justin Rose, back in the early 2000s, Kate has gone on to establish the Kate and Justin Rose Foundation, to support disadvantaged young people around the world, and set up the hugely successful Rose Ladies Golf Series during the COVID pandemic. She shares her experiences of how golf and charity are so intertwined, what it was like watching Justin in a dramatic Masters play-off earlier this year and why she would encourage all women to get involved in the sport! Find more Why Golf content on Instagram , and watch this episode on YouTube here . To find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer, head to thisiswhygolf.com . Submit your messages to the team here ! The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.
44 min
Why Golf is back for series 3 and we’re starting off with a bang at the host venue for the 2026 Solheim Cup in the Netherlands – Bernardus Golf! Guest host Henni Zuel chats to someone who’s won the competition as both a player and captain, Catriona Matthew, about her memories of past editions, including a very dramatic win in 2019. She also explains why it’s so valuable to brands to get involved with women’s golf. Plus, Henni speaks to the new PING Junior Team Europe Solheim Cup captain Anne van Dam about what it means to her to have such a big golf event in the Netherlands, and about the kind of captain she wants to be. We also speak to Skyscanner’s Andre Le Masurier about why his company made the ground-breaking decision to invest in women’s golf as their first entry into sports sponsorship. Find more Why Golf content on Instagram , and watch this episode on YouTube here . To find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer, head to thisiswhygolf.com . Submit your messages to the team here ! The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.
48 min
For the final episode of the series, we’re chatting to Olympic silver medallist and Ryder Cup winner Tommy Fleetwood! He tells Di about his experience in Paris on his way to making the Olympic podium and what it was like securing the Ryder Cup for Europe in Rome in 2023. Tommy also describes how special it was meeting his golfing idol Ernie Els when he was just eight, the path he took to becoming a professional golfer and the pride he has in his golf academies in both the UK and Dubai. Plus what does he make of Michael McIntyre’s accusation that Tommy is to blame for the comedian’s glute injury?! Find more Why Golf content on Instagram , and watch this episode on YouTube here . To find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer, head to thisiswhygolf.com . Submit your messages to the team here ! The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.
29 min
In the second of a special 2-part episode from the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, we visit two of the most iconic golf courses in the UK - St Andrews and Kingsbarns! There Di speaks to 5-time major winner Brooks Koepka about the friendly rivalry with his brother and also 2010 Open winner Louis Oosthuizen about what drew him to playing on the LIV tour. Fellow South African Branden Grace also shares his thoughts about the future of golf and star of Dragons’ Den and Shark Tank Peter Jones hears our pitch for a new golf invention. Will he agree to invest?! Find more Why Golf content on Instagram , and watch this episode on YouTube here . To find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer, head to thisiswhygolf.com . Submit your messages to the team here ! The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.
38 min
Come and walk the iconic Old Course at St Andrews as we return to the home of golf for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship! Di catches up with former footballers Jamie Redknapp and Ruud Gullit on how important golf is to their lives and just how exciting it is to take part in the tournament as amateurs. She also speaks to 2013 winner David Howell and Dan Brown, who reflects on his remarkable T10 finish at this year’s Open Championship. Pablo Larrazabal also reveals which lucky charm he always carries in his golf bag. Find more Why Golf content on Instagram , and watch this episode on YouTube here . To find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer, head to thisiswhygolf.com . Submit your messages to the team here ! The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.
45 min
Want to know why comedian Michael McIntyre sometimes thinks he can win the Masters? Or who would be in England cricketer Ollie Pope’s dream fourball? Or why actor Dougray Scott had to turn down a round of golf with Bill Clinton? We’ve got all the answers and more in this week’s episode of Why Golf! We’ve travelled to Wentworth for the BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am where Di also caught up with former footballer Ben Foster, TV presenter Dan Walker, pro golfer Matt Wallace, Augusta University student Jess Pilgrim, Seve Ballesteros’ former caddie Billy Foster and co-founder of Sport Parkinson’s Charlie Appleyard. Find more Why Golf content on Instagram , and watch this episode on YouTube here . To find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer, head to thisiswhygolf.com . Submit your messages to the team here ! The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.
43 min
Why Golf is back in Virginia for a second episode from the 2024 Solheim Cup. Di catches up with both the European and American camps, including USA captain Stacy Lewis and Irish star Leona Maguire, to reflect on what the competition means to them. She also travels to Stonewall Golf Club where she speaks to golf influencers Georgia Ball, Carolina Romero, Brady Nuss, Tisha Alyn and Kat Shee to find out their Why Golf. Di also looks to the future, finding out how preparations for the 2026 Solheim Cup are going with Sabine Riezebos, General Manager of Bernardus Golf Club where the next edition will be held. Plus hear from America’s victorious Junior Solheim Cup team including captain Beth Daniel! Find more Why Golf content on Instagram , and watch this episode on YouTube here . To find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer, head to thisiswhygolf.com . Submit your messages to the team here ! The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.
34 min
Why Golf comes to you this week from the Solheim Cup in Virginia, USA! In this first part of a special two-episode edition recorded at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Di speaks to key members from both the European and American teams, including vice-captain Mel Reid, world number one Nelly Korda and Olympic silver medallist Esther Henseleit during the build-up to the 2024 competition. She also catches up with racing driver Chloe Chong, former European captain Pia Nilsson and Skyscanner’s Sonja Balcer to discuss the significance of partnering with the Solheim Cup. Find more Why Golf content on Instagram , and watch this episode on YouTube here . To find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer, head to thisiswhygolf.com . Submit your messages to the team here ! The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.
30 min
We’ve travelled to the home of golf, St Andrews, for this episode of Why Golf! Recorded during the AIG Women’s Open, Di catches up with Big Randy from No Laying Up, one of the world’s biggest golf podcasts. Randy speaks about the differences he finds in covering women’s vs men’s golf events, how No Laying Up grew from humble origins into the world-dominating force it is today and shares his thoughts ahead of this month’s Solheim Cup. We also hear from TV presenter Dan Walker, professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova, golf coach Kate Davey and YouTuber Rick Shiels about their golfing journeys. Find more Why Golf content on Instagram , and watch this episode on YouTube here . To find out more about everything the Why Golf platform has to offer, head to thisiswhygolf.com . Submit your messages to the team here ! The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.