Fairways and Feelings

Daniel Clark
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Welcome to Fairways & Feelings—the podcast where we take a step off the course and into the lives of the people who shape the game. Each episode, host Daniel sits down with someone from the world of golf to explore who they are—not just as golfers, but as people. Brought to you by Florio Golf, the golf mental health awareness brand. Follow Florio Golf on Instagram: @florio_golf

  1. #14 Suzann Pettersen - The unfiltered reality of chasing world number one

    APR 2

    #14 Suzann Pettersen - The unfiltered reality of chasing world number one

    Suzann Pettersen has experienced the absolute pinnacle of professional golf. As a two-time Major Champion, 15-time LPGA Tour winner, nine-time Solheim Cup competitor, and European team captain , she is now shaking up the sports management world with her player agency, VOXA. In this episode, Suzann opens up about: 🤫 The cultural pushback she faced in Norway and how it forced her to change how she handled her childhood ambitions. 🏥 The back injury that left her crawling into a doctor's office, and the specific moment of doubt that fueled her comeback. 🧊 The "calculated selfishness" required to be an elite athlete, and the hidden toll it takes on personal relationships. 🛑 The sudden identity crisis and mental hurdle of being abruptly grounded from her 24/7 tour schedule. ⛳ The fairytale 2019 Solheim Cup, and the exact, unspoken moment on the 18th green when she knew her career was over. 🧠 The moment her ego vanished, and why she admits being a mum is harder than playing professional golf. Give it a listen, share it with someone who might see themselves in it, and subscribe for more conversations like this. For more stories like Suzann’s, head to Healthy Minds GC. 📲 Follow Suzann on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzannpettersen/ 📲 Follow VOXA on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/team_voxa/ 📲 Follow Florio Golf on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/florio_golf/

    1h 12m
  2. #13 Paul Cormack - Inside the life of an LPGA Tour caddie

    MAR 12

    #13 Paul Cormack - Inside the life of an LPGA Tour caddie

    Paul Cormack has experienced life on both sides of the bag. After a decade grinding as a mini-tour pro , he is now an elite LPGA Tour caddie. He currently carries the bag for Lydia Ko , has previously worked with players like Anna Nordqvist , and was named LPGA Tour Caddie of the Year for 2025. In this episode, Paul opens up about: ⛳ The specific, humbling moment during a US Open qualifier that made him realise his 10-year pro playing career was officially over. 🏌️‍♀️ Why standing on the first tee alongside the world's best players still terrifies him to this day. 🧠 The surprisingly mundane tactic he relies on to pull elite athletes out of mental spirals on the course. 🛑 The biggest misconception fans have about the "24/7 grind" of professional golfers. 🥪 How he unplugs from the high-stakes pressure of the LPGA tour when he's finally off the clock. 🗣️ His definition of success for when he eventually walks away from the game. Give it a listen, share it with someone who might see themselves in it, and subscribe for more conversations like this. For more stories like Paul’s, head to Healthy Minds GC. 📲 Follow Paul on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulhcormack25/ 📲 Follow Florio Golf on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/florio_golf/

    1h 20m
  3. #12 Rachel Drummond – Loss, Trauma and the Life You Don’t See

    FEB 11

    #12 Rachel Drummond – Loss, Trauma and the Life You Don’t See

    Join me as I sit down with Rachel Drummond. She’s been just about everywhere in golf, wearing a lot of hats along the way. Former Ladies European Tour pro, coach, broadcaster, and now travelling the world with LIV Golf as their on-the-ground voice. You might know Rachel as sympathetic, articulate, and always smiling. What you hear less often is what life has looked like away from the microphone. That is where this conversation goes. We talk about the rollercoaster she’s lived through so far. Grief and losing both of her parents. Identity. And the stuff you carry quietly while life keeps moving. Rachel also speaks openly about being sexually abused as a child, about keeping that to herself for years, and the moment she decided to talk about it publicly. In this episode, Rachel opens up about: 🎙️ Her journey through pro golf, coaching, media, and life on the road with LIV Golf 🧠 Survival mode, emotional shutdown, and what it felt like when the tears finally came back 🌧️ Grief, losing both parents, and learning how to live alongside it 🧩 Identity, pressure, and the version of yourself people assume they know 💬 Speaking publicly about sexual abuse, and what changed once she said it out loud 📏 What success looks like now, and why happiness has become the main metric Give it a listen, share it with someone who might see themselves in it, and subscribe for more conversations like this. For more stories like Rachel’s, head to Healthy Minds GC. 📲 Follow Rachel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/racheldrummond/ 📲 Follow Florio Golf on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/florio_golf/

    1h 14m
  4. #11 Sarah Stirk - How Do You Juggle Work, Motherhood, and Yourself?

    JAN 13

    #11 Sarah Stirk - How Do You Juggle Work, Motherhood, and Yourself?

    Join me as I sit down with Sarah Stirk. One of the most recognisable voices in golf broadcasting, and someone whose career has quietly spanned some of the biggest moments in the sport. You might know Sarah from the microphone. Calm, composed, always in control. What you do not often hear is what life has looked like off camera, especially over the past few years. That is where this conversation goes. We talk about work, motherhood, IVF, pressure, ambition, and what it actually takes to keep showing up when life feels heavy and brilliant all at once.------In this episode, Sarah opens up about:🎙️ Life in broadcasting and what people rarely see behind the polished exterior 🧠 How her mental health shifts day to day, and why sleep and self-care matter more than people admit 🌱 IVF, the emotional toll of waiting, and feeling like a number in the process 👶 Becoming a mum, the joy, the exhaustion, and how it reshaped her priorities ⚖️ Learning how to hold ambition and contentment at the same time 🧩 What success looks like now, and why she feels more settled than ever------Give it a listen, send it to someone who might see themselves in it, and subscribe for more conversations like this.------📲 Follow Sarah on Instagram: LINK📲 Follow Florio Golf on Instagram: LINK------Check out more stories from the golf world at https://www.healthyminds.golf/

    50 min
  5. #10 Jean van de Velde - What does resilience really look like?

    07/16/2025

    #10 Jean van de Velde - What does resilience really look like?

    Join me as I sit down with Jean van de Velde. A former Ryder Cup player, European Tour winner, and a man whose name is still whispered whenever someone finds water on 18. You probably know the story. Carnoustie, 1999. One of the most talked-about final holes in golf history. But what came after that? And who is Jean actually, when you look under the surface? That’s what I wanted to explore. In this conversation, Jean opens up about: 🧠 The mental aftermath of that Open Championship and how he coped away from the cameras 🥀 Why resilience isn’t about strength, it’s about choosing grace, even when everything’s falling apart 🇫🇷 What it was like growing up in France when golf barely existed and nobody believed he’d make it ⛳ His proudest wins, his hardest losses, and the putter-only walk back down 18 🌱 How he’s found perspective, purpose, and peace, both on and off the course Give it a listen, send it to someone who’d get something out of it, and don’t forget to subscribe. 📲 Follow Jean on Instagram: @jeanvandeveldeofficial 📲 Follow Florio Golf on Instagram: @florio_golf

    1h 8m
  6. #09 Tadd Fujikawa - Why did you choose to come out publicly when you did?

    05/27/2025

    #09 Tadd Fujikawa - Why did you choose to come out publicly when you did?

    In this episode, I sit down with Tadd Fujikawa—a name you might remember from the headlines, but whose story goes far deeper than the spotlight ever showed. At just 15, Tadd qualified for the U.S. Open. At 16, he made the cut at the Sony Open in his home state of Hawaii, becoming one of the youngest players ever to do so. He was a prodigy. A sensation. A walking headline. But what the headlines didn’t show was everything else. In this powerful, heartfelt conversation, Tadd opens up about: 🌺 Growing up in public housing in Kalihi, Hawaii—and how those early experiences shaped who he is 🌟 The mental toll of being thrust into the spotlight before he even finished high school 🧠 Quietly battling depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts while the world watched him smile 🏳️‍🌈 Coming out in 2018—and becoming one of the first openly gay male pro golfers in history 💬 Why he still believes in golf, in people, and in the power of being honest—even when it’s hard In this episode: Pressure, identity, mental health, vulnerability, early fame, and coming out. 🔗 Listen now and share it with someone who you think would benefit from listening. Watch a clip from Tadd's incredible run at the Sony Open at 16 years old: CLICK HERE Follow Tadd Fujikawa on Instagram: @taddy808 Follow Florio Golf on Instagram: @florio_golf

    1h 25m
  7. #08 Stuart Appleby - What does it take to keep going after everything falls apart?

    05/13/2025

    #08 Stuart Appleby - What does it take to keep going after everything falls apart?

    In this episode, I sit down with Stuart Appleby, a nine-time PGA Tour winner and one of the most quietly resilient figures in golf. Stuart’s career has spanned decades at the top level—multiple Presidents Cups, a top-20 world ranking, and a reputation for grit over glamour. But behind all of that was a man navigating immense personal loss, identity shifts, and the mental weight of staying competitive in a brutal sport. In this deeply honest conversation, Stuart shares: 🏡 What it was like growing up on a dairy farm in rural Australia and how that shaped his perspective 🏆 How he went from a farm boy to a top-20 player in the world—and the cost of that climb 💔 The grief of losing his wife Renay at just 25—and what it took to keep going 🧠 How he now sees mental health, self-talk, and why his old ‘police your thoughts’ approach had to change 👨‍👧 Fatherhood, identity, and what he hopes his kids take from his journey In this episode: Resilience, grief, identity, letting go, fatherhood, and the quiet power of showing up again. 🔗 Listen now and share this with someone who could use a bit of perspective today. Follow Stuart Appleby on Instagram: @stuartappleby59 Follow Florio Golf on Instagram: @florio_golf

    1h 39m
  8. #07 Sandra Gal - If golf disappeared from your life… who’s left?

    04/22/2025

    #07 Sandra Gal - If golf disappeared from your life… who’s left?

    This week, I’m joined by Sandra Gal—LPGA winner, Olympian, Solheim Cup player, and one of the most recognisable names in German golf. She’s had an incredible career on paper—but this conversation goes beyond that. Sandra opens up about: 🧠 What reaching her limit taught her about pressure, identity, and stepping back 💬 Why walking away from the game was the hardest—and best—thing she’s done 🧘 How meditation, stillness, and self-reflection helped her reconnect with herself 🎨 The role of painting, nature, and slowing down in finding emotional balance ⛳️ And what it really means to play from a place of joy—not pressure If you’ve ever burnt out, freaked out, or quietly unravelled while still showing up like everything’s fine—you’ll get a lot out of this. Give it a listen, pass it on, and if you’re enjoying Fairways & Feelings—hit follow, rate it, share it, all that good stuff. It genuinely helps. 📲 Follow Sandra on Instagram: @thesandragal 📲 Follow Florio Golf on Instagram: @florio_golf 📲 Sandra's website: https://sandragal.com/

    57 min
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About

Welcome to Fairways & Feelings—the podcast where we take a step off the course and into the lives of the people who shape the game. Each episode, host Daniel sits down with someone from the world of golf to explore who they are—not just as golfers, but as people. Brought to you by Florio Golf, the golf mental health awareness brand. Follow Florio Golf on Instagram: @florio_golf

Information

  • Creator
    Daniel Clark
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Daniel Clark
  • Show Website
    Fairways and Feelings

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