Why Score Obsession Destroys Focus (and What to Do Instead)

In this pilot episode of Aligned Athlete, we break down one of the biggest performance traps in golf: score obsession—and why chasing numbers often destroys focus, confidence, and long-term improvement.

We unpack real-world examples from Rory McIlroy’s 2025 Masters and U.S. Open, using them as a case study to show how elite players manage pressure, reset mentally, and train with intention across an entire season—not just week to week.

This episode bridges the gap between how PGA Tour players actually train and how the average golfer practices. We dive into:

• The mental frameworks elite golfers use in high-pressure moments
• Why “trying harder” and chasing swing tips usually backfires
• How professional-level training integrates mental performance, physical preparation, and purposeful practice
• What golfers can do differently—starting now—to practice in a way that actually translates to the course

You’ll hear firsthand perspectives from two coaches who live this work:

• Brendan O’Neil, a mental performance coach working with military professionals, bringing proven focus and pressure-management systems
• Justin Langhill, a golf performance coach specializing in golf-specific fitness and swing coaching, with advanced certifications and experience developing golfers from the ground up

We’re not theorists—we’re golfers, coaches, and practitioners. We share our own experiences, mistakes, and lessons learned to help you stop chasing the next “quick fix” and start training the real drivers of performance.

If you want to play better golf, train like better golfers think and prepare—this episode shows you where to start.