After Day 1 of the 2023 Ryder Cup, star golfer Justin Rose revealed the advice he received from Novak Djokovic. He said it helped him put up an excellent performance, consolidating Team Europe’s lead. They finished the day with a five-point lead over Team USA after Rose made a crucial putt to end the proceedings.
Djokovic featured in the Ryder Cup All-Star match before the main event. He decided to stay back and enjoy some golfing action. The Serb, however, was seemingly involved beyond his capacity as a viewer as disclosed by Rose.
Advice from Novak Djokovic inspired me, says Ryder Cup veteran
The 2023 Ryder Cup got underway on Friday, September 29. Team USA won the previous edition two years ago with a massive 19-9 margin. This time around, Team Europe got off to a great start and held a 4-0 lead before the afternoon session commenced. The Europeans won the first of the four fourball fixtures, extending their lead to 5-0. The next two matches were tied and the score read 6-1.
In the final fourball clash, Rose and Robert MacIntyre took on Max Homa and Wyndham Clark of Team USA. The Americans put in a great shift, standing at two up with two holes left to play. A win for Homa and Clark would have seen them earn one point for their team. However, Europe bounced back to win the 17th hole. Rose completed the comeback by sinking a crucial putt on the 18th hole to tie the game. The final Day 1 score read 6.5-1.5, a significant five-point lead for Team Europe.
After completing the final putt, Rose excitedly turned around and dedicated the shot to his teammates present there (via Perth Now). He revealed Djokovic had advised him to draw inspiration from the people around him. He said the caddies and other players near him inspired him to make that crucial putt and he did it for them.
“Djokovic said ‘You’ve got to use people as inspiration out there. In some ways, the 10 caddies and the vice-captains and everybody else out there, that was the inspiration for that particular putt. I made the putt because I had 10 people willing it in behind me. It’s for them, as well.”
Even though he played and won the All-Star Match, Djokovic is not someone you would approach for golfing advice. However, the tennis legend’s mentality is a useful weapon in any sport.
Djokovic’ mentality inspired from Kobe Bryant
Djokovic is reputed as one of the mentally strongest players in tennis. His mental strength and resilience is legendary as athletes from other sports also look up to it. It has become a trademark of sorts, much like the late Kobe Bryant’s ‘Mamba Mentality’. The World No.1 has been vocal about his admiration and relationship with Bryant.
After winning his 24th Grand Slam at the 2023 US Open, Djokovic paid a heartfelt tribute to Bryant who passed away in 2020. The basketball legend wore the No.24 during his legendary time with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Serb wore a shirt with ’24’ written on the back and a photo of him with Bryant on the front with the words, Mamba Forever.
Djokovic’s elite mentality follows the footsteps of Bryant’s famous Mamba Mentality and he has built his storied career on his legendary mental resilience. His passion and obsession with being the best is something the American star preached. Djokovic continues to feed off his mentality and scale new heights even as he touches his late 30s.
