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Golf Tips: Two Keys to Bounce Back After a Tough Round

By Brendon Elliott, PGA
Published on

Anyone who has ever picked up a club knows that golf can quickly become a frustrating and grueling challenge.
Even for professionals.
It is rare that we see the best players in the world struggle, but it does indeed happen, and more often than one would think. Look no further than what's happened the last few days at the U.S. Women's Open. Lancaster Country Club has challenged the world's best players, most notably World No. 1 Nelly Korda who missed the cut.
Nelly's opening round of 80, which came off the rails early with a ten on the testy par-3 12th, her third hole of the day, made it hard for her to bounce back and play the weekend. One thing to note — and it is critical — is how that round in no way, shape or form, is an indication of her fantastic play this year. She said it herself: "It was just a bad day at the office."
Nelly's struggles, and much of the field's challenges at Lancaster, just proves how hard this game really can be. But there is much to learn from watching the world's best, well, not have their best.
Start with resiliency
One key takeaway is the importance of mental resilience. Even the best golfers in the world face challenges and setbacks but demonstrate resilience by staying focused and positive. Amateur golfers can learn from this by developing their mental toughness and learning to bounce back from bad shots or difficult situations on the course.
Nelly's opening round of 80, which came off the rails early with a ten on the testy par-3 12th, her third hole of the day, made it hard for her to bounce back and play the weekend. One thing to note — and it is critical — is how that round in no way, shape or form, is an indication of her fantastic play this year. She said it herself: "It was just a bad day at the office."
Right after her press conference, she was at the range with her PGA Coach Jamie Mulligan. Nelly could've easily gone home and tore apart her round, but she knew there was another chance to get better. While she ultimately missed the cut, think about hitting some putts or maybe a quick bucket after a bad round. It's a step in becoming more resilient.
Solidify your pre-shot process
This weekend, observe how the players approach difficult shots or tough course conditions at Lancaster. It can really provide valuable learning opportunities. By studying their decision-making process and shot selection, we can gain insights into course management and strategy that can help improve their own performance.
Golf is undeniably hard for even the most skilled and experienced professionals. The mental and physical demands, the unpredictable nature of the game, and the vast array of skills required all make golf a formidable challenge at any level. While the sport's serene exterior may deceive casual observers, those who have experienced the relentless pursuit of excellence on the golf course understand the true difficulty of the game.
If you want to learn more about how to recover from setbacks, contact your local PGA of America Golf Professional! They're expert guides in giving you the proper tools to succeed.
Brendon R. Elliott, PGA

Sorrento, FL

Brendon Elliott

Director of Instruction, Freelance Golf Writer

[Brendon Elliott, PGA](https://brendonelliott.com/), is an award-winning PGA Professional, player-development coach and nationally recognized golf writer with three decades of experience in the golf industry. As of 2026, he has been a PGA Professional for 17 years and has earned more than 25 PGA Section and Chapter honors for his work in coaching, education and player development. In 2017, he received the PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. ## Coaching Competitive Teenage Golfers Through [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home), Brendon specializes in working with competitive teenage golfers who want to improve their performance, better understand their games and prepare for the demands of high school, junior tournament and college golf. His primary focus is [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching), which allows him to remain actively involved in a player’s development regardless of location. Rather than relying on occasional lessons or isolated swing fixes, Brendon works with players throughout their competitive journey. His coaching covers much more than the golf swing. Players receive ongoing guidance in structured practice, short-game development, putting, course management, tournament preparation, performance analysis, goal setting and the mental and physical habits required to improve over time. Using video analysis, virtual coaching sessions, performance data and regular communication, Brendon helps each player understand what to work on, why it matters and how to make meaningful progress between practices and tournaments. Brendon accepts only a limited number of in-person students in Central Florida. His priority is building long-term [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching) relationships with competitive teenage golfers and their families. The goal is not simply to help a young player hit better shots. It is to help that player become more prepared, more accountable and more capable of navigating everything competitive golf demands. Brendon’s career has included serving as a head golf professional, general manager, college golf educator, career development director, academy owner and longtime junior golf leader. He founded Little Linksters Golf Academy in 2008 and led the organization for more than 16 years before selling the academy in late 2024 and launching [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home). ## Golf Writing and Media Brendon is also a nationally recognized and prolific golf writer and storyteller. He is the Senior Golf Writer for [Athlon Sports](https://athlonsports.com/author/brendon-elliott) and has written extensively about professional golf, instruction, player development, equipment, golf history and the people shaping the game. His work has also appeared with PGA.com, GolfWRX, PGA Magazine, MyGolfSpy and several other prominent golf media outlets. Through [One More Roll Golf Media](https://onemorerollgolf.com/), Brendon provides editorial content, feature writing, consulting and media services throughout the golf industry. His background as a coach and educator shapes the way he writes, while his work as a writer strengthens the way he coaches. He understands how to explain complicated ideas clearly, ask better questions and connect the technical, strategic and personal sides of golf.

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