The Next Shot: Tour Breakthroughs and the Joy of Developing Young Golfers

Over the last few weeks I've been reflecting on the human stories behind professional golf: tour cards, uncertainty, breakthroughs and the enormous pressure attached to what looks like an ordinary putt. This weekend provided plenty more examples. But one of my most satisfying experiences was much closer to home, with our Oxfordshire girls' county golf programme.

PGA Tour: Blades Brown breaks through in Mexico

At the World Wide Technology Championship, Blades Brown, just 19, closed with a 63 to reach 23 under. Ben James eagled the final hole to force a play-off, but Brown birdied the second extra hole to win. What interested me was not simply his age but the ability to handle the change from chasing to leading. He chose to turn professional directly from school rather than follow the college route. That worked for him; it doesn't make it the right pathway for every talented youngster. Individual development must come first.

DP World Tour: Rahm wins again

Jon Rahm won the Abu Dhabi Championship at 23 under, two ahead of Tyrrell Hatton, with Rory McIlroy third. His return to winning comes amid considerable change in the professional landscape. The Race to Dubai now heads to its season finale. I often remind players that sometimes perspective and recovery are more useful than another hour on the range.

LPGA: Sakuma's breakthrough

At the TOTO Japan Classic, Shuri Sakuma closed with a bogey-free 64, including five consecutive birdies, to finish at 20 under, four clear of Aki Iwai. It was her first LPGA victory, but she had already won repeatedly on the Japanese domestic circuit. What appears to be overnight success often rests on years of work that an international audience hasn't seen. The LPGA now moves on to The Annika.

Ladies European Tour: Peláez Treviño's comeback

Ana Peláez Treviño won the Aramco China Championship at 20 under with a closing 64 that included a hole-in-one. More than four years separated her first and second LET victories. She had doubted whether she would win again. Confidence isn't something a good golfer permanently possesses; it needs to be rebuilt through experience and the right environment. The LET's Spanish season finale is approaching.

LIV Golf: uncertainty beyond the ropes

There was no LIV Golf tournament this weekend. However, the changing men's professional landscape, and questions surrounding future playing opportunities and eligibility, remain significant. It's important to distinguish confirmed developments from speculation. For aspiring professionals, understanding the available pathways is fundamental.

Oxfordshire girls' golf: a thoroughly satisfying Sunday

Away from the professional tours, Sunday reminded me exactly why I love long-term coaching. We ran both our Oxfordshire Ladies' County Golf Association development and performance sessions.

The morning group is broadly for girls from pre-handicap to around a 36 handicap. We spent a couple of hours looking at how to give practice some structure. Improvement isn't simply standing on the range and bashing ball after ball. We worked through ways of setting targets, creating challenges and introducing games, so that practice becomes purposeful, varied and enjoyable. I want the girls to take that creativity into their own sessions.

In the afternoon it was our performance group, a programme we've worked hard to build over the past couple of years. We now have girls playing off low single figures, including handicaps of two and three. I'm enormously proud of their progression, not only as golfers but in their confidence and independence.

We were joined by Declan, our sports psychology colleague and a former pupil. I started coaching him when he was seven, and have watched his development as a golfer and an individual. He has completed a degree and a master's in sports psychology and is now building his professional portfolio towards becoming a chartered psychologist. Being able to work alongside someone whose journey I've followed for so long is particularly rewarding.

Before the performance girls went out to play, Declan led some psychology work. A fascinating part of the conversation concerned motivation. Some girls play simply because golf is fun, enjoyable and sociable. Others increasingly enjoy competition and seeing just how good they can become. Neither is the 'correct' motivation. Our responsibility is to understand each player and support the journey she wants to take.

We have one more get-together planned, and deliberately it won't be another formal coaching session. We'll bring both groups together for a relaxed, enjoyable occasion. The younger girls can meet those further along the pathway, share experiences, ask questions and find a little inspiration and informal mentorship. Sometimes that kind of connection is every bit as valuable as a technical lesson.

It was a thoroughly satisfying day: watching young players develop, seeing a former pupil return as a professional colleague, and recognising all the different reasons people love this game.

The coaching lesson: no single timetable for success

Brown is winning at 19. Sakuma's breakthrough followed years of domestic success. Peláez Treviño waited more than four years between victories. Rahm has found his way back to winning. And in Oxfordshire our girls are following different pathways, with different handicaps, motivations and ambitions.

There is no single definition or timetable for success.

My approach remains grounded in fundamentals, deliberate practice, reflection and long-term support. Here's a simple challenge for your next practice session: decide what you want to learn before you start, vary the targets and tasks, then reflect on what worked. Don't just count the balls you've hit.

Looking ahead

The DP World Tour heads to Dubai for its season finale, the LPGA continues at The Annika and the PGA Tour's FedExCup Fall moves towards its conclusion. I'll follow the winners, but also the players trying to secure one more opportunity. And I'll look forward to bringing our two county girls' groups together for their relaxed final session.

Andy Taylor PGA Professional | Andy Taylor Golf Lab