AP McCoy: “Tiger didn’t know who I was, but we had a good chat about injuries!”

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If a golfer dominated the game the way Tony ‘AP’ McCoy has dominated horse racing, they would have 100 Majors under their belt and make a hole-in-one every time they so much as looked at a par 3. 

Watch the documentary Being AP and you could be forgiven for thinking you’re watching an extended episode of children’s TV show Record Breakers.

McCoy’s 4,348 career wins saw him crowned Champion Jockey in every one of his 20 years as a professional. 

He spent over 1,000 weeks at number one, making Tiger Woods’ 545 weeks look fleeting by comparison.

He once rode 289 winners in a season, akin to Jordan Spieth winning every PGA Tour event and bending the laws of time to pick up a few European Tour titles at the same time.

His amazing career saw him pick up a Lifetime Achievement award at the Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony on Sunday. He was, quite simply, untouchable, and his retirement earlier this year was racing’s loss, but golf’s gain…  

Once you’ve played golf with Tiger, you wonder why you bother.

I played a round with him at the JP McManus Invitation Pro-Am in Ireland five years ago and I couldn’t have asked for a better partner – he’s just different. I actually played better alongside him as his presence, and the 100,000 people who came to watch him, made me concentrate a lot more. He’s not only an amazing talent; he’s a really nice, down to earth guy.

Tiger didn’t have a clue who I was…

 But he was very interested in the rehabilitation side of racing. My good friend and fellow jockey Ruby Walsh caddied for me that day and he asked us about recovery and the injuries we suffer as jockeys. I’ve broken almost every bone in my body, so I was in a good position to give him advice.

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I put my success down to mental toughness, not physical endurance. 

If you look at all the top athletes in any sport, they all have a mentality that not everyone has. I never rested on my laurels. I always thought of how I could be better, because if I didn’t, some young buck would come and take it all away. I think the top golfers in the world do exactly the same thing – and that’s how they stay on top.

I always liked doing things that not everybody else was prepared to do.

To go that little bit further than the rest. I wouldn’t call it breaking your opponent, but when things were tough I wanted them to look over and see me smiling. In that respect, racing and golf require the same mental toughness, the ability to look across and say ‘don’t worry about me, I’ll be alright’.

Standing on the tee is more nerve-wracking than racing.

At least when I’m on a horse I feel in control. It’s my own sport and it’s what I’ve been doing each day for over 20 years. But with golf, I’m out of my comfort zone, and in the pro-am tournaments I’m usually playing against the best golfers in the world. Since retiring I’ve been lucky enough to play with Shane Lowry, Rickie Fowler and Lee Westwood and I now know why they are golfers and I’m not.

I played a round with Rickie Fowler.

He looks small enough to be a jockey, but he has excellent technique. Rickie is probably smaller than I am yet he’s still capable of hitting the ball as far as he does. It’s extraordinary.

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I’m a big Rory fan. 

Given my Irish roots, I always want the Irish boys to do well. Ireland is really punching above its weight in terms of Major wins and there’s so much buzz coming out of the country right now.

I currently play off 14.

I’m a member at my local course, Donnington Grove Country Club in Berkshire. I’ve always been there or thereabouts with my handicap, but because I’m playing more my game is definitely improving.

I had my first golf lesson two months ago.

I’ve been playing the game for over 15 years, but when I was riding I’d only get to play 10 times a year so I didn’t have the time to practise or be too technical.

I’ve noticed a big difference in my game since retiring.

I’m turning much more and have more flexibility in my swing. I never used to turn and the upper half of my body used to do all the work.

I have an addictive personality.

And I’m definitely addicted to golf. 

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Phil Taylor: A nine-darter is harder than a hole-in-one

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