When Digby Watt started working as a physical therapist on the PGA Tour in 2009, most golfers had minimal fitness routines. Before hitting the first tee, they’d see a physio to get stretched out on a trainer’s table. Afterward, they might grab an ice pack on their way back to the hotel.
Tour pros in 2019, however, engage in active warmups and elaborate cool-downs, adhering to advanced training regimens and proper recovery.
“Guys are hitting it with such velocity these days,” says Watt. “I think bodies would be wearing out a lot quicker if not for the fact that they keep working on flexibility and stability.