If you're raising a competitive junior golfer, you already know the pressure can be intense — not just for the athlete, but for the parent too.
That’s why I’m excited to share a unique opportunity, personally extended to me by my mentor and good friend, Rob Ohno, President and CEO of the ANNIKA Foundation.
Rob and his team are hosting a powerful virtual conversation that I believe every parent of a junior golfer should attend.
Event Details
More Than Golf Virtual Series
Date: Wednesday, July 30
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Topic: Parenting Elite Junior Golfers
Hosted by: The ANNIKA Foundation
Registration Link: https://forms.wix.com/f/7340752034313798235
This event features a conversation with Annika Sörenstam, one of the greatest golfers of all time — not just as an athlete, but now as a parent of a rising junior golfer. She’ll be joined by highly respected junior golf coach Eva Rogers.
Together, they’ll offer thoughtful insights into how parents can best support their young athletes.
Why I’m Sharing This
I’ve spent my career helping athletes perform at their best — and a major part of that work involves helping parents build the right environment at home and on the course. This session aligns with everything I’ve seen work in the field:
Parental involvement impacts mindset. Research from Dr. Carol Dweck shows that when we reward effort over outcomes, kids build confidence and long-term resilience.
Unspoken pressure can hurt performance. Dr. Sian Beilock’s work explains how anxiety from parents can influence athletes before they even tee off.
Positive connection matters. The “car ride home” can shape how a young athlete reflects on their performance — either with shame or with learning. I spoke about this exact topic 3 years ago - and it is just as relevant today as it was then. Watch the interview I had with LPGA Tour player, Yealimi Noh and her swing coach, Erik Stone - about The Car Ride Home
What You'll Hear From Annika and Coach Eva:
The common fears junior golfers face, and how to support them
How to talk with your child after a round — without overanalyzing or criticizing
Setting expectations with empathy and clarity
What it means to offer unconditional support, especially when things go wrong
Why This Matters
You don’t need to be a coach or a sports psychologist to help your child thrive — but you do need the right tools and mindset. This session is an opportunity to learn from someone who’s lived it at the highest level — and is now walking the same path as a parent.
Register Here
This isn’t an MPGA event, but one I deeply believe in and want to pass along to families and players in our network. I hope you’ll take advantage of it.
Let’s keep building the kind of support that helps junior golfers succeed — not just in the game, but in life.
As Annika and her foundation would always say… it’s #morethangolf
Your Mental Coach,
Dr. Mat