US Open winner Justin Rose has expressed his gratitude to the psychiatrist who used a Star Wars movie to help him beat 'nerves' and win at Merion.
Rose, who missed his first 21 cuts as a professional, then struggled to close out tournaments on Sundays, banked 890,000 pounds in prize money for his triumph at Merion, the Mirror reports.
According to the report, sports shrink Dr Gio Valiante had made Rose watch a scene from The Empire Strikes Back before Merion as he wanted the Englishman to see a particular scene with hero Luke Skywalker receiving advice from his Jedi mentor Yoda.
Valiante said that the clip was an example of a young man coming into his own and finally being ready to take the moment, which he wanted Rose to see as he just needed to bring out his training in the field like he was taught to do.
Admitting that Valiante has made a big difference since they started working together in 2010, Rose said that although there is a stigma about consulting a shrink, it is necessary for some people so that they can deal with life and have everything in balance.
According to Rose, he also practiced few breathing techniques, which was a big key towards winning the tournament, adding that even though he was very nervous with an elevated heart-rate, he felt that he was in control for a large part of the game, resulting in his success.
Rose is now targeting more glory - next month at The Open Championship in Muirfield, Scotland, the report added.
