How To Best Play The Inner Game Of Golf

At The Open Golf Championship, legends aren’t made by swing alone. The true drama unfolds in the minds of golfers confronting relentless pressure, swirling doubts, distractions, and the unpredictable elements that shape every round.

More Than Just Golf

Every player at The Open arrives not only to compete against the rest of the field, but to overcome the mental barriers they face.

From the first drive to the last putt, it’s a battle against self-doubt, anxiety, and the intense expectations of performing on golf’s grandest stage.

Mental Fatigue and Performance Anxiety

Golfers at The Open face more than wind and rough. The real challenges are internal:

  • Performance anxiety that can create tension

  • Mental fatigue as pressure builds through each hole

  • Doubts about abilities after a wayward shot

  • Difficulty regaining focus after setbacks

Succumbing to these challenges can drain the joy from the game, cause burnout, and prevent players from reaching their potential.

Sport Psychology in Action

Sport psychologists like me work behind the scenes to help athletes at every level:

  • Building self-awareness to understand what truly drives performance

  • Challenging rigid beliefs and reframing pressure as an opportunity, not a threat

  • Teaching coping and resilience strategies - like mindful breathing, positive self-talk, and mental routines for quickly recovering from adversity

  • Providing long-term support for wellbeing, especially when recovering from injury or balancing the demands of competition and broader life

Developing a Bulletproof Mindset

Open champions craft their mental edge with deliberate strategies:

  • Setting flexible goals

  • Using helpful language

  • Managing adversity

  • Developing emotional control

  • Focusing on process – golf is not a game of perfect!

Whether you’re inspired by the world’s best, or striving to level up your own game, one truth is clear: the most powerful victories happen first in the mind.

Ready to overcome the mental barriers preventing you from performing at your best, in sport and in your wider life?

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A Personal Note:
One of my favourite sport psychology books, The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey, profoundly influenced how I view sport psychology. It introduced the transformative idea that success comes from quieting the internal critic and fostering self-belief - lesson that resonates deeply in golf and beyond.

Rich Sille