CASE STUDY: Coaching impact
Peter Odemwingie – the Premier League star who is now a PGA Member
After a football career as a Nigerian international and a prolific Premier League striker, Peter Odemwingie is now loving life as a PGA Member. He is uniquely well placed to compare and contrast coaching philosophies in the two sports
PETER ODEMWINGIE recently graduated as a PGA Member, and the former Premier League star is applying some of the lessons he learned as a footballer to his new lease of life.
During a playing career that saw him win 65 caps for Nigeria and represent 10 clubs across six different countries, Odemwingie acquired a great deal of knowledge from the many coaches he worked under.
His willingness to embrace new experiences is something he feels will stand him in good stead in the world of golf coaching, having seen how others have grown wiser for having adopted the same approach.
He spent some time under the tutelage of Roy Hodgson while at West Brom, with the peripatetic Englishman making an impression on him.
"Roy was so passionate about football and when he spoke, you listened," said Odemwingie. "He loves the game and is an accomplished coach who travelled a lot – anyone who travels around that much is definitely someone with a commitment to the game.
"He was someone who could find the right words to turn things around, and that's something that can apply to coaching in any sport."
Odemwingie's football career in numbers
129
Premier League appearances
36
Premier League goals
65
caps for Nigeria
10
clubs represented
“Golf is a sport, like football, where a lot of mental strength is required”
Another area of common ground between Odemwingie's past career and his current pursuit is having to deal with setbacks, something even the very best must contend with from time to time.
"You have to deal with disappointments, and there are times when you just need to go back to the drawing board, and that goes for all sports," he said.
"Tiger Woods had this thing where after 10 steps he would forget the bad shot before because it's easy to get your head down in golf.
"It's about persevering and keeping a positive attitude to see you through when times are tough.
"Golf is a sport, like football, where a lot of mental strength is required."
Even the tactical side of football has imbued Odemwingie with some wisdom he can call upon for the game of golf, whether coaching or playing.
"If we take Roy again as an example, he's someone who put a lot of emphasis on being organised and making sure the team kept a good shape," he explained. "He understood it was about picking the right time to attack and finding the moments to use your strengths.
"That's the same with course management – you have to know the moments you can exploit.
"It's good to have ambition but it needs to match your ability, and you should always have a plan and know how you're going to execute it."
Get golf business insights straight to your inbox
Sign up for the first look at the latest news, features, exclusive interviews and podcast episodes with our monthly newsletter