15/08/2026
I’ve just come back from 2 days of competitive golf, playing in the oldest professional event The Leeds Cup and if I’m being completely honest, the first round has got to be up there with one of the worst rounds of competitive golf I’ve ever played.
Looking back, a lot of that came down to the pressure I’d put on myself in the build-up to the event… and then carried onto the course.
I didn’t hit enough greens, and when the course is firm, you quickly realise that if you miss the target, the ball can bounce absolutely anywhere. It just was a day where I felt uncomfortable over the ball worried about where the ball was going & didn’t enjoy my golf.
But then came round 2.
I took a lot of the pressure off myself, stopped worrying so much about the outcome as I was nowhere near the leaders and simply tried to enjoy playing golf again.
And unsurprisingly… I played a lot better. I hit better shots, made better decisions and, most importantly, enjoyed it a lot more.
After reflecting on the two days, I’ve actually learnt a huge amount. It’s a reminder that golf isn’t just about having a great technique. The mental side of the game can have a massive impact on how we perform.
I spend so much time helping my players deal with their own expectations, pressure and confidence, but it’s important to remember that I’m still learning and dealing with exactly the same things myself.
Competitive golf has a funny way of showing you where you need to improve. This time, it wasn’t necessarily my golf swing.
And honestly, I’m glad I experienced it.
Back to work. ⛳️
