Why do only a few MAKE IT

Photo - PGA Tour Of Australasia

We all have aspiring young players at our golf clubs who dream of becoming the next star. But why do some golfers make it to the next level while most don’t?

I’ve spent a lot of time around talented players—some made it, many didn’t. What separates those who succeed from those who don’t?

The Key Difference

The best players in the world are simply better at getting the ball in the hole more efficiently when it matters. That’s it. But I believe golfers can develop both physically and mentally to reach the top.

I’ve seen incredible players fail to reach the European Tour, while others who seemed less impressive earned their tour cards and found success. To be clear, any player who earns a tour card at any level is an elite golfer. But for this discussion, let’s define “making it” as gaining playing privileges on the DP World Tour or an equivalent level.

The Common Traits of Successful Players

From my experience, those who make it share these key attributes:

• A clear improvement plan that’s always under construction

• Great coaches who hold them accountable and build confidence

• Mental resilience in high-pressure situations

• A burning desire to succeed

• Selfishness—not arrogance, but the ability to put themselves first

• High-stress tolerance

While minor details matter, we should focus on two simple questions:

1. Is our practice developing real skills and leading to improvement?

2. Is our mental training actually working?

Tracking progress is easier than ever with modern tools. Don’t shy away from stats—if you dislike analyzing them, have your coach or team do it. Taking just 5–10 minutes to log data after a round helps make informed decisions. Remember, you are the CEO of your own career, and great CEOs always have a high-level view of their company’s performance.

Being Honest with Yourself

If you’re competing on the amateur circuit or a Mini Tour around the world, ask yourself:

• Are you a standout player? If so, keep building consistency and seek invites to regional pro events.

• Are you mid-pack and frustrated? A performance coach can help set realistic yet challenging goals. They’ll assess your training, mental game, and physical preparation, often bringing in specialists like psychologists or strength coaches.

A good performance coach simplifies everything, ensuring that every aspect of training is geared toward one goal: getting the ball in the hole more efficiently.

Dealing with Slumps

Every golfer hits rock bottom at some point (yes, I’ve been there too, it sucks). This often leads to overanalyzing, changing swing thoughts constantly, and focusing on results instead of the process. When this happens, step back from competition and regroup.

Here’s how:

• Journal your thoughts—track how you feel about your game. Often overlooked these days, there is power in writing things down. Many successful people talk about how essential it is.

• Talk with your coach or team—identify any outside factors affecting performance.

• Develop a clear improvement plan—set process goals for course play and design practice drills that build confidence.

• If swing mechanics are the issue, have a simple, reliable feel to take onto the course.

Laser Focus: A Lesson from Olympic Athletes

A good friend once recommended the book 2 Lengths of the Pool by Simon Hartley, a world-renowned sports psychologist. It tells the story of an Olympic swimmer overwhelmed by stress and anxiety. Hartley stripped everything down to one simple focus: swim two lengths of the pool.

The swimmer stopped overthinking and simply worked on getting faster. This involved stripping away a lot of training that had no impact on getting faster. The results were astonishing. 

Golfers can learn from this. Is your training actually helping you get better at getting the ball in the hole, or are you just going through the motions? 

Final Thought

What do you think? Have you ever seen a player surprise you with their success? What stood out about them?