Rory McIlroy reveals how Roger Federer helped him rediscover motivation: "I probably still have a bit of imposter syndrome"

When you go searching for answers, you sometimes need someone to sit with you, listen to you, and help you understand what you are searching for. Rory McIlroy once found himself in the same situation. He had been targeting the Green Jacket for a long time and worked extremely hard towards that goal. But when he finally achieved it and the Green Jacket rested on his shoulders last year, he didn’t quite know what to do with himself.

When Rory McIlroy felt something missing despite success

Rory McIlroy had won The Masters and completed the Career Grand Slam. Besides being calm, happy, and motivated, McIlroy at times appeared unmotivated and quick to anger. He in fact admitted that he was frustrated, irritated, and unmotivated at times, and his reactions could be seen when he was facing the media.

He won the Irish Open and an away Ryder Cup. He was lifting trophies and receiving applause from all corners, but something still felt missing despite all the success. Many people turn to someone for advice, and McIlroy did the same. But he didn’t choose anyone from the golf world. Instead, he chose tennis legend Roger Federer.

Rory McIlroy turned to tennis great Roger Federer

Rory McIlroy asked the 20-time Grand Slam winner, Roger Federer, how he stayed motivated after breaking Pete Sampras’ record. McIlroy was asked on the Fried Egg YouTube channel what drives him now that he’s won The Masters, and the golfer recalled a conversation he had with the tennis star.

“I actually had a chance to have dinner with Roger Federer a few weeks ago, and he framed the question a little differently to me, and it just made me think about it a little bit differently," McIlroy said as quoted by hitc.com.

“And I was asking him, when he got to a point in his career when he achieved everything he really wanted, what was the motivation to keep going, and his answer was great. And it had to do with Pete Sampras, and when he got to 15, which was past Pete’s 14, he’s like, ‘Well, 20 didn’t seem that far away’ So, it’s the same thing for me. I probably still have a little bit of imposter syndrome that, wow, this is my life, and this is what I do. But I think as well having a conversation like that with someone that’s done it all. Okay, it’s in a different sport, but he’s lived it. He’s been through it,” Mcllroy added.

The golfer further revealed, “He played the game to a very high level for a very, very long period of time. And just to get his thoughts on how he thought about the last phase of his career, it’s such a wonderful opportunity that I get to do that, and I feel incredibly fortunate that I do get to do it.”

He said, “I’ve got the five majors. I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility that I could win every major twice, which would be a really cool thing to win the Grand Slam twice.”

After interacting with Federer, McIlroy seems to have found answers to many of his questions.

Also read: Rory McIlroy stands by Shane Lowry: What the golf star said after Cognizant Classic collapse