Henry Shefflin presented an RTE documentary on 'winning' tonight, a subject on which most would agree he has at least some knowledge.
The show featured interviews with Trinity psychology professor Ian Robertson, former Wall Street trader and neuroscientist Dr. John Coates and Syracuse political scientist Margaret Herman.
We heard much about how winning more and more increases testosterone and aggression in the winners.
By far the most finest moment was when Enda McNulty was encouraging dancer Padraig Miles to stare in the mirror and chant "I am ready" like an incantation.
It was about visualisation. Not one for the cynics.
And he interviewed Shane Lowry. Golf is very instructive. Few sports present the kind of mental strain on competitors that golf does.
Normally renowned for a generally cheery and unflappable disposition, Lowry spoke about the pain and disappointment he felt after faltering in the final round of the US Open this year.
Lowry by four shots heading into the final round in Oakmont. However, he slumped to a 76 on the Sunday, finishing in joint 2nd, three shots behind winner Dustin Johnson.
Lowry admitted he felt "a bit embarrassed" as his chances were imploding. He believed he was letting people down. He remembered that it was 'Father's Day' and while he and his father wouldn't be 'too soppy' about such things, he regretted not being able to hand him the trophy afterwards.
I reckon 90% of the bad shots I hit are in my head. People have swing thoughts in golf. When I'm playing my best golf I don't have any swing thoughts. Nothing. I just stand up. I look where I'm going and I just hit it. And go down and find it and hit it again.
Getting 'in the zone', it's a hard place to get yourself. And the harder you try to get in there, the more you can't get in there.
I was there a few weeks ago at the US Open, for three rounds anyway, I was there, I was as good as I've ever been on the course, mentally. Played unbelievable. Didn't look like I was going to hit a bad shot. And even when I hit a bad shot, it didn't feel like a bad shot, because I was in such a good frame of mind.
Everything was happening so slowly over the firs three rounds. And then as things began to unravel everything started to happen quickly.
I would have felt a bit embarrassed. You feel a bit embarrassed when the whole world watching you. If someone offered you 2nd at the start of the week, you'd go "yeah, I'd be pretty happy with that."
And then you're leaving like... I've left the golf club as disappointed as I've ever been in my whole life. It was just the worst feeling ever. And it felt like... d'you know when you feel like you let people down?
Me Da was there and it was father's day that day. And we wouldn't be that soppy about that sort of stuff. But like, to be able to just hand him that trophy. I don't ever want to feel like that again, not being able to do that.
