#93: [Inside the Mind] Michael Leonard: Training Your Mindset and The Blueprint for Tournament Golf

Tournament golf will test every ounce of your discipline, patience, and emotional control—and Michael Leonard has lived it. 

In this conversation, good friend and founder of Wicked Smart Golf, Michael Leonard, is back on the show to break down the real differences between the mental game and mindset training, the traits that separate consistent performers from the rest, and how to protect your energy when negativity surrounds you. 

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The key differences between the mental game of golf and true mindset training
• How to identify and eliminate self-talk that sabotages your performance
• Why protecting your energy is a prerequisite for tournament success
• The growth mindset traits every serious golfer must develop
• How to use your "dark side" and competitive drive as fuel for improvement
• Strategies for thriving in high-pressure, tournament conditions
• The #1 mistake golfers make when transitioning into competitive play

Get your pencils ready and start listening. 

P.S. Curious to learn more about the results my clients are experiencing and what they say about working with me? Read more here.

More About Michael

Michael is the founder of Wicked Smart Golf, a brand and podcast dedicated to helping golfers shoot lower scores without overhauling their swings. 

A competitive amateur with hundreds of tournament rounds under his belt, Michael has authored a trilogy of golf improvement books covering breaking 90, breaking 80, and mastering tournament play. 

Through his writing, speaking, and coaching, he simplifies the mental game, sharpens course management skills, and teaches players how to build the mindset needed to perform under pressure—on and off the course.

• Connect with him on Instagram.

• Watch him on YouTube.

• Purchase "Wicked Smart Golf" on Amazon.

• Subscribe to the Wicked Smart Golf Podcast. 

• Work with Michael.

Play to Your Potential On (and Off) the Course

1. Schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery Call
2. Subscribe to the More Pars than Bogeys Newsletter
3. Download my "Play Your Best Round" free hypnosis audio recording.

High-Performance Hypnotherapy and Mindset Coaching

Paul Salter - known as The Golf Hypnotherapist - is a High-Performance Hypnotherapist and Mindset Coach who leverages hypnosis and powerful subconscious reprogramming techniques to help golfers of all ages and skill levels overcome the mental hazards of their minds so they can shoot lower scores and play to their potential.

He has over 16 years of coaching experience working with high performers in various industries, helping them get unstuck, out of their own way, and unlock their full potential.

Click here to learn more about how high-performance hypnotherapy and mindset coaching can help you get out of your own way and play to your potential on (and off) the course. 

Instagram: @thegolfhypnotherapist 

Twitter: @parsoverbogeys

Key Takeaways:

• Mindset is how you think off the course. The mental game is how you execute on it.
• Self-talk, especially speaking in absolutes, directly shapes performance.
• Growth mindset starts with how you respond to others' success—use it as fuel.
• Purpose and competition keep men emotionally engaged and focused.
• Mentally tough golfers have self-discipline, challenge themselves, and "just keep going."
• Tournament golf requires planning, emotional regulation, and stimulus management.
• Stick to your routine. Under pressure, you fall to the level of your habits.
• The dark side—if understood—can be a powerful motivator.
• Complacency is the real enemy of progress.

Key Quotes:

• If you're not training mindset daily, it won't be there when you need it most.
• Self-talk isn't just words—it's wiring your subconscious for what happens next.
• Tournament golf exposes the gaps between preparation and performance.
• You fall to the level of your habits, not rise to your expectations.
• I don't want to retire. I want to die with nothing in the tank.
• Discipline eventually becomes identity—and that's where the breakthroughs happen.
• Sometimes you need to create an enemy to bring out your best.

Time Stamps:

• 00:00: Rebuilding Mindset After Loss
• 03:06: Understanding the Mental Game of Golf vs. Mindset
• 05:38: The Power of Self-Talk and Its Impact
• 08:50: Navigating Negative Influences in Golf
• 11:46: Embracing a Growth Mindset for Success
• 14:26: The Importance of Perseverance and Patience
• 17:27: Characteristics of Mentally Tough Individuals
• 20:18: The Role of Purpose in Motivation
• 24:58: The Purpose of Work and Life
• 26:05: Understanding Competitiveness
• 27:18: Defining Winning in Golf
• 28:14: Embracing the Dark Side
• 30:54: Using Enemies as Fuel
• 32:10: The Importance of Standing Out
• 33:13: Reflecting on Personal Growth
• 36:55: Common Misunderstandings in Tournament Golf
• 40:09: Staying Present in the Moment
• 41:26: Resources for Improvement