Victory on the green isn't just about skill—it's a mental marathon, something Sara Byrne knows all too well. This week, she joins us fresh off her dual college golf event wins, ready to dissect the emotional whirlwind that comes with such triumph. Sara opens up about the balance between the pressure of competition and the sweetness of success, sharing her potent insights on mental resilience. Her strategic eye is already gazing toward the LPGA and LET tour cards, and she doesn't shy away from discussing the grueling path of Q-School that lies before her.
As the college golf season reaches its zenith, the conversation shifts to the importance of optimal preparation and strategic rest. I get personal about my own experiences, reflecting on the lessons learned during intense post-season play. With an emphasis on fine-tuning skills like pinpoint putting, I explore the delicate art of peak performance without burning out. In these moments, the right focus can mean the difference between an also-ran finish and a championship-worthy performance, a balance every collegiate golfer is striving to achieve.
Lastly, we cast our gaze beyond collegiate greenways as we consider the broader landscape of golf, where every stroke and strategy counts. Statistics and strokes gained metrics become our guideposts, thanks to insights from pros like Pádraig Harrington. But it's not just about the numbers; it's the mental grit needed to rise through the ranks, the coaching that refines raw talent, and the adaptability that sees a golfer through the highs and lows. We wrap with a candid discussion about mental toughness and the continuous pursuit of improvement, a journey familiar to anyone who's ever dared to master the game of golf.
Victory on the green isn't just about skill—it's a mental marathon, something Sara Byrne knows all too well. This week, she joins us fresh off her dual college golf event wins, ready to dissect the emotional whirlwind that comes with such triumph. Sara opens up about the balance between the pressure of competition and the sweetness of success, sharing her potent insights on mental resilience. Her strategic eye is already gazing toward the LPGA and LET tour cards, and she doesn't shy away from discussing the grueling path of Q-School that lies before her.
As the college golf season reaches its zenith, the conversation shifts to the importance of optimal preparation and strategic rest. I get personal about my own experiences, reflecting on the lessons learned during intense post-season play. With an emphasis on fine-tuning skills like pinpoint putting, I explore the delicate art of peak performance without burning out. In these moments, the right focus can mean the difference between an also-ran finish and a championship-worthy performance, a balance every collegiate golfer is striving to achieve.
Lastly, we cast our gaze beyond collegiate greenways as we consider the broader landscape of golf, where every stroke and strategy counts. Statistics and strokes gained metrics become our guideposts, thanks to insights from pros like Pádraig Harrington. But it's not just about the numbers; it's the mental grit needed to rise through the ranks, the coaching that refines raw talent, and the adaptability that sees a golfer through the highs and lows. We wrap with a candid discussion about mental toughness and the continuous pursuit of improvement, a journey familiar to anyone who's ever dared to master the game of golf.
Okay, welcome back to the Irish and podcast, and the journey series continues. This time I'm joined by Sarah Barnes. Sarah, how are you?
Speaker 2:
I'm good, thank you. How are you?
Speaker 1:
Not too bad, just a little bit jealous. Sarah is outside and I'm looking at the glorious Miami sunshine. When we're over here in Ireland they're struggling for a bit of dry weather. But I suppose, before we kind of get into the podcast and kind of the journey stuff, sarah, I had you on recently and one of your goals back then was to win college event and you've won two since. So I'm taking 90% of the credit. I'll give you 10%.
Speaker 2:
It sounds good.
Speaker 1:
Before we kick it off, I suppose talk me through the tour a little bit.
Speaker 2:
Yeah.
Speaker 2:
So the first one was kind of like an event that kind of popped up because it was a bit of a schedule change due to the World Championships and stuff like that. So this one was kind of like a bit out of the blue in terms of just a scheduling of it. And then once it came around and like I looked into the event, I was like, oh, like this is definitely one that like is a great opportunity that I could go and win if I play pretty solid. And I think, honestly, that expectation really kind of messed me up in my first year and like I shot even power on that golf course, which is like that golf course was there for scoring if you were striking it well and putting it well. So I think like a little bit of the expectation and I'm like, oh, I really want to win. This was kind of there. And then I was eight shots back after the first round and I was like, oh no, and then from that like the expectation kind of went away and I just free float it and then shot 66, 65 to win, which was which was really really good. It was. I think it really kind of solidified that I can win, especially like a big stroke play, an event like that. It was kind of like as well. Like, coming down the stretch, I knew on 17, like an 18, I needed a birdie. I chipped in on 17,. Like it was just kind of those moments so I was like okay, like yeah, I can come and clutch, which was really, which was kind of a nice experience to have, and then, yeah, so that was, that was a really good one. I think it was a more relief than anything else that I had a college win, because, like I obviously had wanted it so much that to finally get a trophy in my hand was like okay, I won over this one over here in the States. I've kind of like ticked off that goal.
Speaker 2:
And then the second one came straight after, obviously, world Am, so that I literally had no expectations. I just wanted to break 100. Honestly, I was getting off that flight and I was like I cannot play 36. So it's the next day, woke up, I literally woke up, got to the T box and I actually had to re tee it on the first hole. I nearly hit it OB. So like I think that kind of woke me up a little bit and I was like okay, like I actually got a lock in.
Speaker 2:
And then my first ball was fine, part of the first one, I think. From there on I really just free floated. I was on autopilot, I knew I was playing, well, it was just more getting to the day and obviously just went wild a little bit. The puts were dropped, like it was great. It was one of those things where, like wherever I aimed, the ball just went. So I was like, okay, well, this is nice and the rare occasions that happens, and then to do what I did there, like obviously shoot like 19 under for the three rounds that like really just said, okay, yeah, I actually can very much when it wasn't just like a fluke thing. So, yeah, that those two wins were one of the highlights of the year and it was just it's really cool to get two in a row too, which was kind of fun.
Speaker 1:
And I suppose, like I just said, like it was only a couple of months ago, you were talking about getting your first one, you get two back to back and two very different wins actually, just by the sounds of it. So when you're kind of going in with all the expectations in the world the second one, you're going in probably still asleep a little bit and I suppose, coming away and backing them up like that. So you must take a great pride, I suppose, and just being able to get it done in two different ways as well.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, absolutely. And I'm kind of in the mindset where I'm just like trying to learn from everything I do, just to like go on for the future and like what I need to do. So like I think, every single thing that happens, I try not have too much expectations but just learn from it. So I think, like coming away from the first one, I knew how I was, how I reacted under that pressure, and then kind of going into the second one. If I'm maybe like running back to back events, like okay, like I know I can do it, even if I'm like feeling fatigued too. So it's just kind of like taking all the little learnings I can from each thing that happens, you know.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, 100%, and I suppose you mentioned the future there. So if I was asking what's the goal for the next 12 months?
Speaker 2:
Obviously the goal for the next 12 months is to turn professional and either Hafa or both probably have an LPGA tour card and an LAT tour card. I think obviously my goals are always going to be very high, high achieving ones, just because I can make it as well. But no one like with Q-School and everything, you never really know how anything is going to work out. But the dream and the plan is if I could have an LPGA and LAT status in the next 12 months, that would be ideal.
Speaker 1:
And so then, what have you taken? We'll say from the back end, the last year and I know you're pretty much almost true of full season college golf again, so it's slightly different but from the back end of last year, and particularly coming through the last number of events, what have you taken from them that's going to potentially help you with achieving these goals?
Speaker 2:
I think the first thing is that I'm so comfortable at being at around the top of the leaderboard and in contention. To me now it kind of feels off or weird if I'm not in the top 10 or the top five. So I think that's the really good thing is I can really just ride the confidence wave and just keep the foot down. It's never letting off. I'm not getting nervous about it, I'm not questioning it, I'm just like, okay, I belong at the top of the leaderboard and that's where I am at. So I think that's the first thing is just keeping that mentality in my head and being very comfortable around that. And then, yeah, that's kind of like the main main thing.
Speaker 1:
So then I suppose, what's coming up next year? So, like your regular season, poor season is next to believe in college. I could probably get that one wrong, but so that's an NCAA stuff next, is it?
Speaker 2:
Yeah, so basically the next thing I have will be our conference championships. So, like the way the like college system is, like you're spit up into different conferences, so that's next up. And yeah, so it's called the post season. It's not regular events anymore, it's just your, I guess. Basically it's the most important ones in college golf basically. But in terms of like a season it's really just another tournament.
Speaker 2:
But in terms of college and like in respect to college, they're the most important ones. So yeah, in April we only have one event. We have a little bit of a break for like three weeks, which is a nice two because it's a pretty packed season, but yeah, so we have a conference championship and then it goes into regionals in the beginning of May, which is like the stepping stone into trying to get to nationals.
Speaker 1:
So suppose your next three events is kind of well. It's going to be the end of your college career, it's also kind of the biggest part of the year. So I suppose, like, as you said, writing the wave of confidence, like it must go into this kind of portion of it. No, you must be kind of really looking forward to it.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, absolutely Like, as much as like I'm looking forward to a little bit of break because I like I don't want to get burned out. It's kind of like I don't want to stop either, like give me another one, give me another one, give me another one. So it's kind of just taking these kind of things again, learning from past experience of taking breaks and like going for weeks on. So I think, just taking this experience of I have a few things that I need to work on coming into the next three events. So that's also nice that, like I have a little bit of time that I can get the confidence back up in every area of my game that I need to. But it's also kind of like okay, let's keep the mentality of putting the foot down, like don't get it, like don't sway from it a little bit. So that's. There's always pros and cons to having a little bit of a break.
Speaker 1:
So someone playing as well as you are currently in someone that's playing conference as you are. What are you going to be working on? What are you looking to work on?
Speaker 2:
Um, as of right now coming off my last few events. It's my putting um, putting from about uh, five to 10 feet. Um is kind of struggling because my irons and everything I've been on it so I'm hitting a lot to like five to 10 feet. I'm just not making the puts um, which happened a lot. This my my past events, like I was really struggling so I think I lost just a little bit of confidence with that. So I even set as my coach on my last whole.
Speaker 2:
I was like we got, we got to work on the putting group in the next couple of weeks, so that's going to be like my main focus. That always has been my main focus, kind of somewhere where I need to improve. And over the last like that's probably the biggest area of improvement I made in the past, like a year and a half has been my putting, which has been really, really nice to see this kind of paying off. But it's kind of like if I want to make it to the next level and keep keep improving, that's definitely an area I need to need to look at.
Speaker 1:
Are you big on?
Speaker 2:
stats yes, For yeah, I'm big on stats. It's kind of like strokes gained like against LPGA and kind of seeing my like where I'm at with that. Yes.
Speaker 1:
Cause I suppose, like if you're hitting a lot of charts to five or 10 feet, you're not going to hold the moment of what you probably think you should be holding or want to hold.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, it's kind of hard to like deal with that kind of like. Your approach to green is high in stroke skate and then your putting is also. It's kind of always hard to have stroke skin and that when you're hitting it so close. But like again, that's just another, another challenge to get through. Yeah.
Speaker 1:
Cause I know I was looking at something on Twitter did the part of Patrick Harrington was having a fairly long rant about him. I suppose people at miss screens will always have a better stroke average in putting and stuff, so hitting a close Exactly. I wouldn't go changing it just to get the strokes gained and putting like.
Speaker 2:
But I suppose there are events there and then so what?
Speaker 1:
and like you have high goals, but like what success? What does success look like for you in 10, three events? Personally.
Speaker 2:
Obviously getting a win, I think, is that would be like that would just really be a cherry on top, just to finish it all off with either like a conference win or like making it to regionals and again. So I think, like that will always be a goal is just every tournament I go into I want to try and win it, and if the putters hot that week or from striking a great like I haven't really got opportunity to do that. So I think that's kind of the main goal is just kind of keep the foot down with it and just be like okay, like why can't I win it? You know.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, 100%. I suppose that golf is a f**king enough game, or like I suppose we play it a lot but like you're not going to win all of them. You win and you've had a couple of wins recently. But coming back from the tournament and again like what do you look at as like a successful tournament for you? Take away a winning it, everything outside of that.
Speaker 2:
I think it's kind of looking back on the, on the rounds and like China and make sure that like I didn't like leave too many things out there and like I did everything in like in my control correctly, if you kind of get me.
Speaker 1:
Yeah.
Speaker 2:
And like it's kind of like doing the simple stuff really well. So I think, like coming out of an event being like okay, like yeah, I made all the simple up and downs, like I didn't put myself in really bad positions, like when I was maybe like on a run of bogies, like I just kind of got it back, was able to like settle myself down a little bit, kind of just those ways. Like obviously, like I can't control if the bog was in the hole quicker, like you can't control what other people do.
Speaker 1:
So it's just kind of like looking back on it and seeing if I did everything in my control correctly 100%, and I suppose then it was like something that's kind of popped up a bit recently with me is like what's your setup like, I suppose, because, like you would have to probably change that. Coming back, I suppose if you're going to play in the British Am and stuff here, like I'm guessing your, your bag isn't going to be the same in college as it is here.
Speaker 2:
Like in terms of like the clubs I use or like.
Speaker 1:
In what way Like?
Speaker 2:
honestly. Honestly I don't switch them around too much, I just I can control the flight on them, like in the States, obviously I put a higher ball flight on everything. I want them to land softer. You don't have that run out, everything's irrigated. But when I kind of go back to British Am, like yeah, I might switch out a hybrid to a three iron or something in that kind of sense, but I am kind of good at flighting them so and I and I'm very comfortable with the stuff that I use. I know that it works. I like having the hybrid instead of the three iron kind of stuff like that. But honestly, it's not more changing the equipment, it's more just changing the flight of the ball and kind of changing my tempo and everything.
Speaker 1:
You mentioned, the long term goal here is the throne prone, and it's about something that you're probably hoping gets in the way, that is, cortis Coppin kind of extending your amateur status for a bit longer. But is that just going to be a kind of take it month by month and see where you stand? I'm guessing two schools happen regardless anyway.
Speaker 2:
So yeah, like honestly, like it's really hard to have a really set plan and a set date of when everything is going to happen. So like I think it really is just like day by day and month by tournament and just kind of like if something pops up and a major opportunity comes, it's kind of like you have to weigh that up when it comes. But as of right now it's, the turning pro will probably be at the end of the summer, maybe start of September, something like that. But like it's honestly again, it's really hard to put a date on something when you when everything is just kind of up in the air a little bit.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, so I suppose currently you are looking at coming back to British Amp and potentially a couple of more here and then kind of as we'll see what I put you in the rankings Because like you've made such leap, I suppose particularly with Wagner and stuff I know that we discussed this in the last part as well that like you've really put yourself in kind of a really good spot for that selection process.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, absolutely, because that was my main. That's obviously like the pinnacle of like women's amateur golf and GB and I in America. It's been a goal of mine since it was on and done, leery along to a good couple of years ago now. Like getting to watch that was, I think, kind of put it in my mind and I was like okay, like I want to get there. So, yeah, like if it works, if I get there, I get there. At this point it's kind of out of my control, like I just have to keep working on my processes every day and keep doing what I do and just kind of get it in my head a little bit. But it's always kind of there. That's kind of what I'm working towards. Keeps me motivated.
Speaker 1:
And I suppose that one then. So like getting it out of your head is something that I find interesting. How do you manage to put it to one side, particularly when you're competing?
Speaker 2:
I actually got a good one from my coach about this, just because, in terms of teams and stuff, because I there was an event, the Briar's Creek one where I kind of got my head a little bit, didn't perform as well as I should have, and we kind of talked it through and she just got to tell me, like have it in your head that you're not getting picked for them. That's it. Like you're done. The selection's already there. It's already done. You're not picked. Now go out and play golf.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, just go up, and you know it's kind of because, like, if you think about it, like the selection process is those who like deserve to be on the team. So, as of right now, no one's on the team. You know, like it's kind of like literally put it aside, play your golf and, as like good golf can get you far, like all you have to focus is on is playing good golf, and after that it's kind of not in your control. So, like that's kind of like on if it creeps into your head, it's kind of like well, not picked on anyway, so put it away and just play some golf. And like that's what I did this week, it came. I kind of got my performance back up a little bit. So, like it's, it definitely helps.
Speaker 1:
And I suppose then, like what man for the women's am going to be an extremely special one I'm guessing you must be excited for.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, because obviously I'm hoping it to be my last British amateur and having it at home would be pretty nice, so I'm excited for that one. It's going to be a special week, no matter what, and I think just kind of getting to enjoy the experience of it will be fun.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, no, it's definitely something that's knocked on my card already, but I think it could be a very special week for a lot of players up there and I think it's something I suppose again seeing the growth of women's golf around the world, but again in Ireland as well, like that it's kind of getting a bit more notoriety lately, or something that's kind of really being good to see.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, absolutely Like the amount of like media attention women's golf has gotten, not just in Ireland but like across the world. It's just, it's a grow like. I don't know, is it just because I'm being more immersed in it a little bit, because the where I'm at to I'm like this just doesn't seem what it was a couple of years ago. So it's honestly it's. It's really great to see. It's really good because, like I'm kind of more excited for the future because I just feel it's going to keep on growing and growing and like I'm going to be part of that too, which is going to be really exciting. So, yeah, I know it's definitely it's going to be fun for the future.
Speaker 1:
In the next couple of weeks, I suppose kind of almost saying goodbye to Miami. So, like, what's the what's the keys to you for you, like that you've learned over there in the last couple of years?
Speaker 2:
Oh my God, that's a loaded question, I feel. I feel like, coming out of the whole experience now, I'm a very different person than when I went. I think like it changed my perspective on golf a little bit, which is nice. Like I kind of look at the game as Not something you have to be perfect for it's more, you're literally playing the game like, yeah, you get yourself in bad positions, but that's the game, it's how you get yourself back out of them again. So I think that's kind of the first part where I was really able to free up my mind a little bit. It's not how you hit them on the range, it's not, it's how you compete and how you like play the game out there on the course. So I think that's the first thing, like the first major thing I really was able to like switch and that's been obviously the biggest thing that's helped me perform better. I'm trying to think what else, but I think that's that's kind of the main main one was just like kind of the perspective on the game.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, so like I suppose, I think it's such a couple of things like growing as a golfer, I suppose, something that you really don't know about.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, just especially the last two years, with the new copters that came in, they kind of I was kind of stuck a little bit. And after my second year I kind of was like stagnant and I wasn't improving and I wasn't making the next jump. And then with my new coaches I told them I needed to change, like help me, push me, like, push me to my limits every day. And they have, I have I can attest to that so but it's obviously working and that's that I'm very thankful for. But it's definitely I'm a very, very different golfer and obviously I worked technically, I work hard and I put in the hours. But I think just being able to have that mentality switch and like just learning a bit more about the game really has been a big, big help.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, because it's something I find massively interesting. I think it's something that's not I don't think it's discussed enough, for, like, a lot of players can get to a fairly decent standard, let's say in a fairly high standard, but it is that, like, you have to be able to be mentally tough enough to do it at the highest level consistently.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, absolutely. I think it's kind of like her too, because I think for me like I was so willing to change and I was so I was willing to do anything.
Speaker 2:
I was like tell me to do anything and I will do it. I want to get better and I want to get my goals and my like you achieve my dream. So I think that was like the first part of it, that I was so willing to change as I knew what I was doing wasn't working anymore. So I was like I was just open to it. So I think that's kind of the first thing is like you don't want to like argue against or push against it, you just want to like take it all in. And I've obviously been very lucky to have good people and good coaches around me that have helped me and brought me on. But, yeah, just having that willingness to change and like kind of the accountability to know that you're not doing stuff correctly and being able to change us.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, 100%. So I enjoy that and I said, look, I keep it. I keep an eye on the next couple of tournaments and we touch base after the NCAA is and we hopefully have another title under your belt in the meantime.