Six Things a Person with Parkinson’s can Learn from Rory McIlroy’s Victory in the 2025 Masters Golf Tournament

“I’ve always made a total effort, even when the odds seemed entirely against me. I never quit trying; I never felt that I didn’t have a chance to win.” Arnold Palmer

“I’m in the woods so much I can tell you which plants are edible.” Lee Trevino

Introduction: Not everyone is interested in the results of a golf tournament. But everyone is influenced by a powerful, moving, and amazing story that can show the strengths of the human condition. Those who play golf understand this past weekend’s remarkable golf tournament held in Augusta, GA. Those who do not play golf can appreciate and identify with the six things Rory McIlroy did to win this tournament. Hopefully, you’ll be able to clearly see how these six points can help us, people (person)-with-Parkinson’s (PwP).

“Golf is not, and never has been, a fair game.” Jack Nicklaus

A Few Notables Points About the Masters Golf Course and Tournament: One of America’s finest golfers, Bobby Jones, dreamed of building a historic golf course and hosting a world-class golf tournament. Augusta National Golf Club (Augusta, Georgia)  was founded in 1932. The Masters Tournament began in 1934. Golf was first played in Scotland, and eventually, the Major Golf Championships were established. There is the Masters, the PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association of America) Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open (rotating between various golf courses in the United Kingdom). Interestingly, the Masters had been played only at Augusta National, while the others rotate through multiple golf courses. To win the Grand Slam of Golf is to win all four of these golf tournaments in your career. Until Sunday, only five golfers had won the Grand Slam of Golf (Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods). Last Sunday, Rory McIlroy became the 6th person to win Golf’s Grand Slam.

“Golf is a game whose aim is to hit a very small ball into an ever smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose” Winston Churchill

Here are six things about Rory’s victory that made an impact on me, especially as someone with Parkinson’s:

1. Discipline. Of all the ball sports, golf may be the most difficult one to master. Think about it this way: What other sport is the ball stationary before you make contact? More importantly, it takes hours upon hours of practice and practicing even more to become a good golfer, let alone, an elite golfer capable of winning a major golf tournament. Yes, Rory is naturally gifted in golf, but he still needs to have discipline.  

Parkinson’s Corollary: We did not ask for this disease, but it found us. Your life changes a little day by day in the presence of Parkinson’s. However, it takes dedication and skill to continue to learn how to adapt and live with Parkinson’s; thus, it takes discipline. Exercise-wise, it is reaching a point where one slows the progression of Parkinson’s. Minor changes may occur daily that require you to practice trying to remove the detriment, showing that you have the strength to reign over your disorder using discipline.   

2. Perseverance. The tournament is not over until the golf ball goes into the final cup on the green. Usually, this is the 18th hole of golf after four straight days. However, Justin Rose played masterfully himself to tie Rory. And so they returned to play hole #18 again; Rory had not played the 18th hole particularly well on Sunday. Rory found the strength, drive, and precision during the second attempt at playing #18 again. To summarize, he was brilliant. His perseverance was evident throughout the tournament, as he was able to continually push forward to victory.

Parkinson’s Corollary: It’s not over, even when you think you have reached the end. Because of your perseverance, you can gather new strength, regroup, and contain your thoughts. You may need to fire up the physical intensity. You may need it all to withstand the assault of Parkinson’s. Every day is a new battle, a struggle that we understand and share with you, to keep living; thus, a PwP must use perseverance to sustain the effort to keep living like you mean it.

3. Technology. Rory revealed mid-week that he had changed golf balls while preparing for the Masters. The difference was the ability to spin the flight of the golf ball more easily allowing him to hit lower shots with spin to enable him to better aim the ball at the golf pin on the green.

Parkinson’s Corollary: There are new advances against Parkinson’s, including new drugs, tools to help us live more easily, scientific advances to educate us about the disorder, and physical and occupational therapy to offer assistance in adapting to life with Parkinson’s. Using this new technology offers additional ways to protect yourself against Parkinson’s. It may provide the armor to keep succeeding in this battle against Parkinson’s.

4. Resilience. Rory had an up-and-down 18 holes each day of the tournament. He had several not-so-good shots mixed in with brilliant, you’ve never seen such a fantastic golf shot before. Every time he got down, he had the resilience to regain or maintain his position in the field. This resilience led him to find the power and the willpower to continue to create masterful shots and win the Masters.

Parkinson’s Corollary: No matter what happens, don’t give up or give in to Parkinson’s. The next hour or the following day may provide you with the right mixture of strength and determination to turn back your Parkinson’s. Your resilience encourages you to engage in life’s actions and activities, and it keeps drawing from your reserves to gain new energy and commitment to help your life from the adversity of Parkinson’s.

5. Team Effort. After receiving the coveted green jacket, Rory gave a speech recounting the victory. In the end, he thanked his Team, which consisted of his parents, wife and daughter, and a host of coaches, trainers, therapists, and caddy. Although each member of his Team had a specific role in handling Rory, he distilled this information into the final decision to hit each shot during the golf tournament.

Parkinson’s Corollary: You will be faced with many decisions while with Parkinson’s. Having your own Team, regardless of its composition, can help you make the most informed answer. Always remember that your Team is there to focus on you and your health and sustain your quality-of-life, all the while giving you the reins to follow your life plan.

6. Never Lose Hope. Winning the Grand Slam of Golf is a big deal in the golf world. Rory had won the other three tournaments a while ago and has been trying for over a decade to win the Masters. Furthermore, there was a retelling of a story of Rory as a young boy in Northern Ireland, hitting range balls as if he was playing golf at the Masters. All along this journey, it would be easy to lose hope, but he did not.

Parkinson’s Corollary: Hope is a big word for me and other PwP. Hope is used as an anchor to help us understand that something will soon come along to help everyone with Parkinson’s.  This could be a cure, but even more likely, it could stall progression. Thus, as the ocean’s tides can change due to the fury of a storm, use your hope as a boat to help you sail to calmer waters.

“You can’t lose an old golf ball.” John A. Willis

Summary: Use discipline to help focus your life with Parkinson’s. You will need perseverance to cope with the continuous attack of Parkinson’s. Take advantage of any new technology because it could improve your quality-of-life. Having resilience will help you better manage any setbacks. Use a team effort to help you manage your Parkinson’s. Remain hopeful that a positive change to defeat Parkinson’s is coming sooner rather than later. The life of a PwP is not trivial, and it will ask everything of you as you battle through life in the presence of Parkinson’s.

“Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening – and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented.” Arnold Palmer