If you’ve golf on television within the last few years, then you’ve likely seen today’s guest writer Tripp Isenhour. Not only is he a former PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Player, he’s an integral member of the analyst team for the Golf Channel. He has years of experience as a former player and having interviewed all the current top players in golf, so his insights are unmatched. As if Tripp doesn’t have enough on his plate, he launched the Tournament Mindset Series in 2025 for his role as a Golf Performance Coach, which has helped so many junior and collegiate golfers play the best golf of their lives on a consistent basis.
Needless to say, when Tripp gives advice, we listen! He’s been gracious enough to answer questions we know almost any junior golfer can benefit from, in this week’s Coach’s Corner.
What was your mental approach when you were competing on the PGA and Korn Ferry Tours, and how has that evolved now that you’re coaching?
When I was playing on the PGA and Korn Ferry Tours, I had what I’d call situational confidence. When things started going well, I allowed that momentum to continue. The problem was, I didn’t have non-situational confidence — the kind that sticks around even when things aren’t clicking.
Now that I’m coaching, I see how critical that is. The best players have confidence all the time, not just when they’re swinging great. It’s even more important to be confident on the tough days, when you’re not at your best. That’s what separates the guys consistently on top of leaderboards from those who struggle to get there. I was still able to capitalize when I did get hot, which is why I won four times on the Korn Ferry Tour and had chances to win on the PGA Tour — but that difference in confidence is massive.
Many junior golfers get nervous before tournaments. What’s the best way to handle pre round anxiety or first-tee jitters?
I tell my players all the time: if you’re nervous on the first tee, that’s a good thing. It means it matters to you — it means you care. The key isn’t to fight those nerves, it’s to recognize them and still go compete at your best. Let your training take over. Focus less on results and more on your process. When you stay committed to your process all the way through the round, your performance follows. Don’t shy away from being nervous — welcome it. Those feelings are your body’s way of telling you you’re ready to go.
How would you advise a young golfer to bounce back after a bad hole or tough round?
That’s something I work on with players a lot. The key is to stay out of outcome thinking. If you start worrying about how one bad hole will affect your score, you’re focused on results instead of the next shot. When you hit a bad one, let it trigger a reset: “Okay, that didn’t go how I wanted, now let’s go score from here.”
Go play golf, have fun with it, and trust the short game you’ve built. Tiger and Phil loved it when they missed shots because it gave them a chance to show off their creativity. If you can adopt that mindset — seeing a miss as an opportunity — it’ll help you bounce back quicker and keep your focus where it belongs.
What role does confidence play in golf, and how can a junior golfer build genuine confidence that lasts?
Confidence is everything. It’s the foundation of great golf. The way you build it is by trusting your preparation, just like Scottie Scheffler does. He prepares thoroughly: works on fundamentals, fine-tunes his swing, and sharpens the shots he’ll need for a specific event. Then once the tournament starts, it’s all about attitude. He trusts his short game, trusts his prep, and competes with a great attitude from start to finish. That’s the formula: prepare with purpose, then go have fun competing. That’s how real, lasting confidence is built.
What’s one mental routine you recommend before every round — or even every shot?
Before every round, visualize yourself playing well. See yourself hitting great shots on that course, handling challenges, and enjoying success. Your thoughts become your reality, so make sure you’re seeing yourself perform the way you want to. During the round, have instant amnesia on bad shots and let them go immediately. When you hit a good one, take a second to soak it in and enjoy it. That’s how you build confidence: by reinforcing the good and moving on quickly from the bad.
Can you share a time when your mental game helped you save a round on tour?
Yes. I had a chance to win the Honda Classic. I was tied for the lead on the 71st hole with a five-footer for birdie. I got out of my process and started thinking about the result. Missed the putt. I was mad at myself because it was so makeable, but I recognized the mistake and didn’t let it carry over.
On the 72nd hole, I hit three great shots, gave myself a 10-footer for birdie, hit it perfectly, and it lipped out. Even though it didn’t drop, I was proud that I stayed composed and refocused after the miss. You’re going to make mental mistakes, it happens. The key is to recognize them fast and not let one mistake turn into two.
What’s one thing you wish you’d known about the mental side of golf as a younger player?
I wish I’d known that the mental game needs just as much work as the physical game. When I was younger, I spent too much time on swing mechanics and not enough on pre-shot routines, visualization, and attitude. If I could go back, I’d work on those just as hard as my swing. Becoming great mentally is a skill — and you’ve got to train it like any other part of your game.
How can parents best support their junior golfer’s mental game without adding pressure?
Parents have to teach their kids early that it doesn’t matter what they shoot. What matters is effort and attitude. If you make results the focus, you build bad mental habits. Golf is a game, sometimes played in tough conditions, and it should be fun. The best thing parents can do is encourage their kids to give their best effort, enjoy the process, and walk off 18 with a smile. That mindset will take them further than any score ever could.
For a junior golfer, what’s a simple mindset shift they can make right now?
Fall in love with your short game. How good you become as a player will be defined by how good your short game gets. From 150 yards and in — that’s where the best players separate themselves. Spend 70–80% of your practice time in that scoring zone, developing touch, creativity, and confidence. The short game is your passport to playing great golf.
Tripp has offered us so much great advice and I hope your junior golfer can take advantage of these insights and improve their mental game. Don’t forget, you can check out The Tournament Mindset and make sure you follow Tripp at GapGolfCoach for even more great tips!
