Wallace hails Rock influence

Matt Wallace says Robert Rock’s influence on his game has allowed him to move to the “next level”. A solid European Tour player for well over a decade, Rock has returned to his roots in recent years, coaching some of his contemporaries after previously being a club pro. Highlights from his career include seeing off Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy to win the 2012 Abu Dhabi Championship, while he also fired a 60 at this year’s Irish Open. Although only 42, Rock has been coaching his fellow professionals for some time, with 2008 European Ryder Cup team member Oliver Wilson his first really famous client in 2014. Lee Westwood is the most recent star he has taken under his wing, while Thomas Bjorn is also among his pack. Wallace has been working under his tutelage since the summer of 2017 and with majors the goal for the four-time European Tour winner, he admits Rock’s influence has been remarkable. “Rocky and I have grown a lot together,” Wallace is quoted as saying by Golf Digest. “I love the way he teaches. And I love the stuff he tells me that has nothing to do with the swing. “When I played with Tiger at the Open this year, [Rock] gave me so much great advice about how to handle that. He has taken me to the next level, really.”