Ogilvy's concern for golf's gym junkies

Geoff Ogilvy believes the trend toward weight training in golf is causing injuries when overdone.

Jason Day at a kids' golf clinic.

Geoff Ogilvy says Jason Day has the right balance on his weight training. (AAP)

Unlike Jason Day, Geoff Ogilvy is no fan of golf's gym junkie trend.

Ogilvy believes the constant pursuit of more distance in the game through weight training is leading to more injuries and says many top players are playing hurt.

He thinks Day is smart with his weight work and the former world No.1's litany of injuries are more the result of his ferocious drive to be the best and hit "too many balls too hard."

Others not so much, he says.

"As a general overview of the sport, the guys that lift a lot seem to be the ones that are hurt a lot," said Ogilvy. "That is just a general feeling."

"You talk to Jason and he says he doesn't really lift that heavy.

"But there is a little bit of beach workout that goes on with a lot of these guys, a bit of vanity.

"After you get to a certain point you really like what is happening to your body and you do hit the ball further.

"It becomes a thing for these guys and I think too much of it seems to be bad."

Day readily admits it's a constant battle to manage his injuries after a decade on tour.

"Its a non-contact sport but there are a lot of injuries," said Day this week.

"I look back and I have had an ankle injury, two knee injuries, a hip injury, a sports hernia, degenerative disc that's doing my back in."

He added a thumb injury, disc problems in his neck and two wrist injuries, plus vertigo.

Of Day, Ogilvy pointed to his countryman's huge work ethic.

"You could probably manage it by hitting less balls and lifting less," said Ogilvy.

"But he knows his own body. When the stars line up for Jason he is the best player in the world.

"He knows how to get that done and to get that done is risking having to hurt himself a little.

"He likes to really push it to the edge and have every aspect of his body and game working perfectly and when he gets it, it's a beautiful thing.

"But when he just misses it, it sucks because he doesn't get to play.

"That's how he likes to work on golf I think.. leave no stone unturned, work really hard and beat everyone through effort."


Share

3 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world