Mind Your Game

Mind Your Game: What To Do When Your Leading

Mind Your Game Podcast: What to do when you are leading.On this episode of Mind Your Game, Dr. Mat and Cydney Clanton discuss why mental skills matter not only when athletes struggle but also when they’re leading. Cydney recounts caddying for a junior golfer in a US Girls qualifier who played calmly and effectively for 17 holes, then spiraled into panic after learning she had a four-shot cushion on the 18th, speeding up, overthinking, and making a double while still winning. They frame this as a “success threshold” and threat-mode response, using a balance-beam analogy and examples like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler. The episode emphasizes narrowing focus through specific step-by-step instructions, body awareness, and progressive muscle relaxation, highlighting the need to train mental skills consistently. 00:00 Welcome and mental skills 00:33 Caddying the qualifier 02:05 18th tee mind trick 03:28 Lead revealed panic hits 06:06 Spiral signs and reset cues 08:48 Club choice under stress 12:06 Threat mode and IZOF 17:57 Balance beam stakes analogy 20:54 What to do when leading 21:50 Cydney likes to know 23:04 Why Thursdays Feel Hard 23:56 Narrow Focus Wins 26:08 Crisis Needs Direction 28:55 Interrupt the Spiral 30:02 Rory Masters Example 32:18 Body Awareness Reset 34:38 Step by Step Self Talk 40:39 Mind Drives Mechanics 42:47 Train Mental Like Muscles 43:53 Recap and Sponsor Thanks Episode brought to you by: www.eatcaddysnacks.com [https://eatcaddysnacks.com/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.drmatpark.com/subscribe [https://www.drmatpark.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

The Slow Build: Why the Mental Game is Never a Moment

The Slow Build: Why the Mental Game is Never a Moment Dr. Mat and LPGA veteran-turned-performance coach Cydney Clanton discuss mental performance lessons drawn from recent Masters interviews, highlighting Cameron Young’s idea that handling pressure comes from a slow buildup of tools and confidence to stay present. They compare examples from Rory, Tommy Fleetwood, Tiger Woods, and Scottie Scheffler to explore perspective shifts under pressure, why athletes can tighten up when leading, and how success can trigger an “upper limit” ceiling that leads to self-sabotage. The episode emphasizes deliberate daily mental training, redefining success as progress and contention, managing nerves as normal, using committed swings to conservative targets, and shaping better self-talk through language (e.g., “improvements” vs. “bad”). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.drmatpark.com/subscribe [https://www.drmatpark.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

The Psychology Behind a Masters Victory

On the Mind Your Game podcast, hosts Dustin Donner and Dr. Mat Park welcome pro golfer Cydney Clanton to discuss the Rory McIlroy Amazon Prime documentary, focusing on how Rory avoided spiraling after major mistakes and why recovery is trainable. They explore why putting carries extra pressure as the “finale” of each hole, how body language and sustainable confidence (chin up, shoulders back, eye line above the horizon) helped Rory, and how distractions like Masters scoreboards and crowd roars can be managed by focusing on controllables. Dr. Mat introduces the FACE pillars—focus, attitude, commitment, and effort—plus the value of grit and never quitting. Cydney explains why mental-game training is the fastest performance lever, helping in both slumps and success, and shares her own early-career experience of reaching a goal without clarity. They close with Masters winner picks: Ludvig Åberg, Tommy Fleetwood, and Max Homa.00:00 Rory Bounces Back00:40 Podcast Intro01:02 Rory Doc Pressures01:58 Why Putting Feels Final03:48 Wedge Mistakes and Media05:39 Built to Bounce Back07:14 Body Language and Confidence11:01 FACE Mental Game Plan17:03 Never Quit Grit Clip18:59 Player Reactions to Grit21:00 Love the Struggle Mindset22:46 Confidence vs Cocky24:42 Stop Complaining Start Grinding25:22 Why Mental Game Wins26:24 Tools For Slumps And Surges31:04 Visualization And Injury Prevention32:43 Winning Then What34:22 Syds LPGA Wake Up Call38:13 Clarity Over Panic Practice41:04 Masters Picks And Wrap Up This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.drmatpark.com/subscribe [https://www.drmatpark.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

The Mental Game of an Agent

Who would sign up for a job where you have to pay upfront, not know if you’ll get reimbursed, grind all year long… and still might not make enough to keep your spot? Welcome back to the Mind Your Game Podcast. In this powerful episode, co-hosts Dustin Donner and Dr. Matt sit down with “Lefty Sophia” — former performer, licensed clinical dietician, late-life left-handed golfer, and now LPGA sports agent — for a raw, behind-the-scenes look at the mental and financial realities of professional golf. Sophia shares her unconventional journey: * Switching from righty to lefty in golf during COVID * Starting a brand-new career later in life * Navigating fear, rejection, and performance pressure * Supporting LPGA players who are grinding week-to-week just to break even This conversation goes far beyond golf. We dive into:The financial pressure of life on tourHow money stress impacts performanceThe emotional weight of representing athletesPerforming under pressure (on stage and on the course)The “Mama Bear” mindset of being an agentFear, rejection, and learning to accept both Sophia opens up about what it’s really like for professional golfers who: * Prepay travel, caddies, and tournament fees * Must make the cut just to break even * Risk losing their card if they don’t earn enough points * Carry family sacrifices on their shoulders This episode is about pressure — financial, mental, emotional — and what it takes to stay in the game when nothing is guaranteed. If you’re an athlete, parent, coach, entrepreneur, or anyone chasing something uncertain… this one will hit home. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.drmatpark.com/subscribe [https://www.drmatpark.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

From Underdog to Champion: Lauren Coughlin’s journey on the LPGA Tour

In this episode of The Mind Your Game Podcast, host Dustin Donner sits down with veteran LPGA tour player Lauren Coughlin to discuss the mental side of athletics, business, and life. Lauren shares her recent victory at the Grant Thornton Invitational, her experiences on the LPGA tour, and how she deals with both success and adversity. From her beginnings as a walk-on at the University of Virginia to becoming a professional golfer, Lauren dives deep into staying mentally tough, setting realistic goals, and finding success beyond just winning tournaments. Whether you’re an aspiring athlete or just looking to improve your mental game, this episode is packed with valuable insights and inspiration. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:42 Lauren Coughlin’s Recent Victory 01:47 Celebrating Wins and Moving Forward 03:19 Mindset and Routine in Golf 06:04 The Challenges of Putting 11:59 Overcoming Adversity and Building Belief 18:10 Task-Oriented Practice and Structure 20:50 Working with Sports Psychologists 21:57 Managing Performance Anxiety 25:04 Balancing Golf and Personal Life 28:15 Reflecting on Success and Identity 30:39 The Importance of Support Systems 32:32 Defining Success and Setting Goals 35:47 Team Dynamics and Mental Toughness 37:48 Underdog Mentality and Self-Belief 40:27 Looking Back and Moving Forward This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.drmatpark.com/subscribe [https://www.drmatpark.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]