For me, that moment arrived after years away from competitive golf — a quiet realisation that growth does not have an expiry date, and that the most powerful transformation begins within.

My return to the game was not driven solely by the pursuit of trophies, but by a desire to evolve — to understand myself more deeply, to embrace a new mindset, and to discover what could happen when I chose presence over pressure, and belief over doubt.

This is the brief story of that journey.

My Journey

My journey in golf has never been simply about winning championships — it has been a journey of growth, self-discovery, and transformation.

Like many athletes, my early years in competition were driven by determination and ambition. I experienced success, but I also carried pressure, self-doubt, and a tendency to be relentlessly hard on myself. For a long time, performance was shaped by expectation rather than presence, and achievement often came at the expense of personal balance.

Over time, my path in golf would take an unexpected and meaningful turn.

Stepping Away From the Game

At the height of my earlier playing years, life led me in a different direction. I stepped away from competitive golf for nearly two decades to focus on raising my two children and supporting my family — a decision I will always value deeply.

During those years, the game that had once defined so much of my identity became a quiet presence in the background. My focus shifted to family, personal growth, and the responsibilities of everyday life. Like many athletes who step away from competition, the possibility of returning one day felt uncertain, even unlikely.

When I eventually considered a return to elite competition as a senior, the challenge was significant. The game had evolved, the competitive landscape had changed, and I was returning after many years away from high-performance sport. It required not only rebuilding my physical game, but developing a stronger mindset, deeper resilience, and a new relationship with pressure and expectation.

This period became the catalyst for the transformation that followed.

Looking Back to Move Forward

Before returning to competition, I reflected deeply on my earlier experiences in the game. I wanted to understand not only what had worked, but what had held me back. This process revealed a powerful truth that would reshape everything that followed:

“ The only thing we truly control in life is our attitude. “

This simple belief became the foundation of my return to golf and my approach to performance.

Relearning the Inner Game

The first transformation was my relationship with myself.

For many years, I had been my own harshest critic — driven by pressure, negative self-talk, and unrealistic expectations. Returning to the game required a new mindset: one grounded in self-belief, self-care, and self-respect. I learned to replace criticism with compassion, to speak to myself with encouragement rather than judgement, and to rediscover who I was beyond decades of conditioning.

This shift allowed me to play with freedom rather than fear.

Responding Differently to the World Around Me

The second transformation was learning to control my response to external circumstances.

Competition, like life, is unpredictable. Results cannot always be controlled. Challenges will arise. Pressure is inevitable. But our response — our attitude — is always within our control.

I began to approach each moment with acceptance, gratitude, resilience, patience, and presence. Rather than resisting pressure, I learned to embrace it. Rather than fearing uncertainty, I welcomed the opportunity to grow.

This mindset brought clarity, calm, and purpose to my performance.

A Return to Elite Competition

When I returned to senior competition in 2022, this inner transformation became my greatest advantage. Within six months, I reached the world No.1 ranking in senior amateur golf. What followed has been a journey marked by historic achievements and extraordinary experiences on the international stage.

Yet the most meaningful victory has not been the titles or records — it has been the personal growth that made those achievements possible.

More Than Performance

Today, my purpose extends beyond the golf course. I am passionate about sharing what this journey has taught me — about mindset, resilience, personal growth, and the power of choosing how we respond to life’s challenges.

My story is not simply about returning to sport. It is about rediscovering possibility, embracing change, and learning that excellence begins within.

A Continuing Journey

I continue to pursue growth every day — as an athlete, as a learner, and as a person. My journey is ongoing, guided by a simple belief:

“ Play with presence. Compete with love. Grow with grace. “

Because it is never too late to begin again, to evolve, and to become the person you are capable of being.