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What's really going on inside a golfer's mind under pressure? And how much of what we tell ourselves on the course is actually making things worse?
In this episode of the Linked By Golf golf podcast, I sit down with John Mathers — sports psychologist and expert in the mental game of golf — to explore why so many golfers struggle mentally on the course, and what you can do to play better golf by fixing how you think.
John has spent 30 years working with elite performers across golf, tennis, snooker and motorsport. In this golf psychology conversation, he breaks down why it happens — and what you can actually do about it at any handicap level.
Whether you're a scratch golfer or a 20 handicapper, if you've ever wondered why your best golf disappears when it matters most — this golf podcast episode is essential listening.
- Why golf psychology is no longer just for players with problems
- What elite golfers are really thinking under pressure — it's not what you'd expect
- The difference between judging yourself on outcome vs process
- What acceptance actually means on the golf course
- How to build a pre-shot routine that holds up under pressure
- Why negative self-talk starts before you even take the club back
- How to improve your mental game of golf at any handicap
- How long it actually takes to change your mental habits on the course
- Why making a bogey isn't the problem — what you do next is
- John's own golf journey, his +1 handicap, and what still challenges him
- No golfer — amateur or elite — is immune to pressure. The difference is how you respond to it.
- Judging yourself on effort and process, not outcome, is the foundation of a strong mental game in golf.
- A pre-shot routine isn't just a habit — it's your defence against anxiety and doubt on the course.
- The mental challenges of a scratch golfer and a 20 handicapper are more similar than you think.
- Lasting improvement in golf psychology takes 12 to 18 months — but green shoots appear within weeks.
“Enjoy the highs — but learn from the lows. So that your next high will happen sooner, and perhaps last longer than the last one.” — John Mathers
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