Why PGA Tour Studios’ New ‘Mindful’ Series Might Be the Most Important Golf Content This Year

I’ve been coaching golf for a long time — long enough that it makes me feel old to say it. After more than twenty years, I know for sure that the mental side of the game is what sets great players apart from the rest. It’s a huge difference. So when I heard that PGA Tour Studios was launching “Mindful,” a new series about how tour players deal with the mental challenges of professional golf, I circled January 15th on my calendar right away.

This is going to be required viewing for me, and here’s why.

Most of my coaching years were spent with recreational players, mostly kids just getting started. We mostly worked on the basics — grip, swing, weight shift. But lately, over the past five years, I’ve been coaching competitive teenage golfers, and it’s a whole new challenge. These kids have the skills. They can hit the ball well. What really trips them up is the mental side of the game.

The first episode is about Bud Cauley, who survived a terrible car accident in 2018 that almost ended his career. I remember that moment. Everyone in golf was waiting to see if he’d ever play again, much less compete at the top. But Cauley fought his way back, and that kind of mental strength is exactly what my students need to see. Not just the highlights, but the real struggle of facing doubt, fear, and physical setbacks.

https://youtube.com/shorts/qZHYSYw16nk?si=yjg0t_0304iBCQ8K

My teenage players have a lot of talent, but they’re more fragile than most people think. One day they shoot 66, the next day it’s 78, and it’s not because of their swing. It’s about how they handle pressure, manage expectations, and recover from mistakes. I can talk about mental toughness all day, but hearing it from tour players who have been through it themselves is priceless.

What I’m most looking forward to in “Mindful” is how real it promises to be. PGA Tour Studios has special access to these players, and from their past shows like “Scottie 24” and “Xander Embedded,” they know how to tell honest stories. Michael Fay, their senior vice president of production, said they’re focusing on “raw, player-driven storytelling,” which is what most golf content is missing. We don’t need more slow-motion swings with dramatic music. We need to know what these players are really thinking when they face a crucial putt.

The second episode features comedian Katt Williams, who is an interesting pick. I’m interested to see how he connects golf to life. I’ve always thought golf is the most honest sport. You can’t blame teammates, referees, or even the weather — though you might try, it won’t help. It’s just you, the course, and how well you manage yourself. If Williams can explain that in a way that connects with younger players, it could be really helpful.

I plan to watch these episodes with my students. We’ll likely include them in our training sessions, sitting together to talk about what we see and how it relates to their own games. Coaching competitive teenagers means working with kids who are figuring out who they are, and golf makes them face their limits and insecurities every week. That’s a lot to handle.

If “Mindful” can show my students that even tour pros face the same mental challenges, and that resilience comes from facing tough times, then this series will be more than just something to watch. It will be a coaching tool I didn’t realize I needed.

January 15th can’t come soon enough.