Master Your Golf Mental Game with Expert Psychology Support

I offer two days support to each golfer. These days are spent mostly on the golf course (at the golfer's home course depending on travel) with preparation for each day and a review at the end. The support I offer is practical and accessible to allow you to leave with a clear plan and ways of working that maximise your performances on the golf course.

 

We cover various aspects of the mental game in our work over the two days. These typically comprise:

1. Learning to think better at golf 

2. Choosing the right attitude to succeed

3. Kick-start your motivation

4. Strengthen your confidence

5. Dealing with distractions

6. Learning to visualise

7. Developing pre- and post-shot routines

8. Dealing with mistakes

9. Coping under pressure 

10. Dealing with first-tee nerves

11. Pracitising to win

12. Competing to win

​

Case Summary: The Mental Game Makeover of a Professional Golfer

Golfer: James (pseudonym)
Age: 31
Sport: Golf (European Tour Professional)
Presenting Issue: Inconsistent performance under pressure, difficulty closing out tournaments

 

Background

James had all the physical tools to succeed in professional golf. Known for his powerful drives and technical precision, he had multiple top-10 finishes and was considered a rising talent on the European Tour. Yet despite his promise, he struggled to win. His team noticed a recurring pattern: James would play exceptionally well in early rounds but falter on Sundays, particularly on the final six holes.

Frustrated and questioning his potential, James reached out at the start of a new season, hoping to understand and overcome the mental block holding him back.

 

Initial Assessment and Goals

The psychologist began with a series of structured interviews, competitive history reviews, and psychometric assessments. Key findings included:

• High levels of performance anxiety in high-stakes moments

• Perfectionistic thinking, particularly in response to mistakes

• Lack of a consistent pre-shot mental routine

• Self-critical internal dialogue, especially after bogeys or missed putts

Together, we set the following goals:

1. Improve emotional regulation under pressure

2. Develop a resilient and focused mindset throughout all 18 holes

3. Establish consistent mental routines to support peak performance

4. Strengthen confidence and self-belief through mental conditioning

 

Interventions Used

Over a 12-week program, we implemented a range of evidence-based strategies tailored to James’s needs:

• Cognitive Restructuring: James learned to identify and replace perfectionist and self-defeating thoughts with more constructive, process-focused self-talk.

• Pre-Performance Routines: A consistent pre-shot routine was introduced involving breath control, imagery, and a cue phrase: “Trust and commit.”

• Mindfulness Training: Daily mindfulness practices helped James stay present, reduce mental clutter, and improve recovery after errors.

• Pressure Simulation: Practice sessions were redesigned to replicate tournament stress — playing for score, timed decision-making, and "last-hole" scenarios.

• Self-Reflection Journaling: Post-round reflections helped James track what went well, how he managed pressure, and how he recovered from setbacks.

 

Outcome

By the mid-season mark, measurable improvements were clear. James reported:

• Greater emotional control, even during poor rounds

• Increased ability to stay in the moment and focus on process

• Fewer mental errors during final rounds

The biggest breakthrough came six months into the program. At a high-profile tour event, James entered Sunday tied for the lead. Unlike previous tournaments, he stuck to his routine, maintained composure after a bogey on 13, and birdied two of the final four holes — winning his first professional title.

 

Conclusion

This case highlights the transformative power of sport psychology when integrated into a high-performance environment. Through mental skills training, James developed the psychological resilience and consistency necessary to perform at his best — not just physically, but mentally. He continues to work with the psychologist regularly as part of his preparation and recovery strategy.

​

“The biggest change wasn’t in my swing. It was in how I saw pressure — not as something to fear, but as something I was ready for.”

​

​

​

​