Why Golf

Di Stewart brings you a second episode of Why Golf from this year’s Solheim Cup!

Recorded on site in the Netherlands, Di Stewart brings together players, rising stars and celebrity guests to explore what makes golf’s biggest team event so special.

Mimi Rhodes reflects on fulfilling a lifelong dream and making her Solheim Cup debut, while players from Team Europe and Team USA including Nelly Korda and Lottie Woad discuss the atmosphere, the crowds and the pride of representing their continent.

We also hear from stars of the European PING Junior Solheim Cup team about an incredible comeback and their hopes of one day playing in the main event.

Plus, England cricket captain Heather Knight reveals why golf can be more nerve-racking than cricket, and DJ Spoony talks about his Solheim Cup experience, a dramatic chip-in in the All-Star Challenge and why he’s so passionate about helping the sport to become more inclusive!

The Why Golf podcast is brought to you by Skyscanner.

Di Stewart is at the 2026 Solheim Cup!

Recorded live at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, she’s  joined by Solheim Cup legend Suzann Pettersen, England goalkeeper Carly Telford, footballer and DJ Lucy Monkman and darts star Gian van Veen.

The guests compare the pressure of golf, football and darts, from the noise of a football stadium to the silence over a golf ball and the intensity of a packed darts arena.

Suzann recalls the drama of her 2019 Solheim Cup-winning putt, and recreates it for our live audience, while Carly explores the pursuit of perfection and Gian explains how he uses crowd pressure as fuel.

Lucy and Carly also talk about Club Maia, and how they’re building a more welcoming women’s golf community, plus the connection between music, sport and performance.

Plus, how are the guests feeling about playing the Solheim Cup course ahead of the All-Star Challenge?

Oscar-nominated actor Haley Joel Osment joins Di Stewart on Why Golf to talk about his lifelong relationship with the game — from learning to play with his dad in Los Angeles to finding a lifeline in golf during the pandemic.

Haley reflects on the surprising similarities between acting and golf, including preparation, rhythm, instinct and learning to leave a bad shot behind. He also explains why golf can be such a powerful test of patience, concentration and self-belief.

Plus, Haley takes us behind the scenes of Happy Gilmore 2, revealing what it was like to play Billy Jenkins alongside Adam Sandler, film golf swings on a spinning rig and watch Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau embrace the comedy on set.

He also shares the story of his lowest-ever round at Payne’s Valley, his favourite courses around the world, the golfer he would most like to play in a film, and why golf is a game you can never completely conquer.

Find more Why Golf content on Instagram & TikTok at @thisiswhygolf

The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.

Di Stewart sits down with new Ladies European Tour CEO Tom Phillips for an early look after his first few months in the role.

Tom takes us through his journey in the game - from the Faldo Series and the Hong Kong Golf Association to the DP World Tour and now the front line of women’s professional golf.

Di and Tom also spoke about the build‑up to the 2026 Solheim Cup, chatting about how this year’s event has the potential to ignite new fans and reshape long‑term engagement with the sport.

Look out for more Why Golf content on Instagram at @thisiswhygolf.

The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.

From Ladies European Tour Rookie of the Year to professional golfer, and now one of the most recognisable new voices in golf broadcasting, Amy Boulden joins Di Stewart to reflect on her evolving relationship with the game!

Amy opens up about the mental and financial pressures that eventually led her to step away from professional golf, why she misses competing but not the struggle, and the support her family gave her when things got tough.

She also looks back on winning the Swiss Open after lockdown, the importance of her team-mates and support network, and the full-circle experience of working inside the ropes at the biggest events in golf.

Now broadcasting across the Legends Tour, the Men’s Open and the women’s game, Amy explains how she is learning to trust her instincts as a presenter and commentator — and why live on-course commentary feels so natural to her as a former player.

Plus, Amy shares why amateur golfers should watch more women’s golf, and analyses the European Solheim Cup team after the selections were confirmed last week!

Find more Why Golf content on Instagram, just search for @thisiswhygolf.

The Why Golf podcast is presented by Skyscanner.

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

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.

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?

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

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!