In this episode of Aligned Athlete, we sit down with Andrew "Ando" Hannon, two-time Golf Digest recognized Top 50 Golf Fitness Coach and one of the performance coaches behind PGA Tour star and U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark.

As Wyndham Clark enters the final round of the 2026 U.S. Open, leading once again, Andrew gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to perform at the highest level of golf—and why the lessons apply just as much to everyday golfers as they do to major champions.

We dive into the realities of golf fitness, recovery, mobility, performance training, and the challenges golfers face when trying to improve in a world overflowing with information. Andrew shares insights from over 13 years of coaching golfers of all ages and skill levels, from recreational players to PGA and LPGA Tour winners.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• What it's really like working with Wyndham Clark and elite professional golfers • The role of fitness, mobility, and recovery in golf performance • What "recovery" actually means for everyday golfers • What to look for in building a personalized improvement plan that fits your lifestyle • Why consistency beats perfection in long-term development • The importance of assessments, progression, and training • The value of building the right team around your game

Whether you're a competitive golfer, weekend player, coach, or someone trying to improve with limited time, this episode offers a practical look at how high-level performance principles can be applied to your own game.

Follow Andrew Hannon on Instagram: @ando_vsp

If you enjoy the episode, be sure to subscribe, share it with a golfer in your life, and leave a review to help us continue bringing world-class coaches, trainers, and performers to the Aligned Athlete community.

In Episode 9 of Aligned Athlete, Justin Langhill and Brendan O'Neil welcome their first guest, sports psychologist and former Division I golfer Dr. Carley Hunt.

As a former collegiate golfer at Maryland and Georgetown and now a performance psychologist, Dr. Hunt brings a unique perspective from both sides of performance—the athlete who has competed at a high level and the psychologist who helps athletes navigate pressure, confidence, focus, and uncertainty.

At the center of this conversation is a question every golfer has experienced:

If I can do it on the range, why can't I do it on the course?

We explore why your brain often doesn't trust your swing, how uncertainty leads golfers into endless swing changes, and why trying harder is rarely the answer. From YouTube rabbit holes to swing-thought overload, many players spend years searching for technical fixes when the real issue is how they think, focus, and respond under pressure.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why YouTube golf instruction isn't the answer for every golfer
• How many swing thoughts you should actually have during a round
• What thoughts, habits, and routines to delete—and what to keep
• How to keep your attention on what matters most during performance
• The difference between being results-focused and process-oriented
• Why golfers become obsessed with fixing themselves
• Emotional regulation versus traditional ideas of mental toughness
• How uncertainty fuels overthinking and swing obsession
• The importance of a pre-shot routine—and an often-overlooked post-shot routine
• The "Plan Phase" and "Play Phase" of effective performance
• The Three C's: Catch It, Check It, Change It
• How to handle negative thoughts without fighting them
• Why junior golfers who develop mental skills early gain a significant advantage
• The role of creativity, presence, and self-awareness in better golf
• The number one factor that helps golfers improve long term

This was a fascinating conversation between three performance coaches from different disciplines—golf instruction, physical performance, and sport psychology—and despite coming from different backgrounds, the message was remarkably consistent:

The golfers who improve the most aren't always the ones with the best swings. They're the ones who learn to trust themselves.

Follow Dr. Hunt on Instagram: @thinkbettergolf

If you've ever felt stuck between the player you are on the range and the player you become on the first tee, this episode will help you understand why—and what to do about it.

In Episode 8 of Aligned Athlete, Justin breaks down a real tournament experience that exposed something every golfer has felt:

Why can you stripe it on the range… then completely lose it on the course?

This episode dives into the brain’s “protection mode” — the subconscious survival response that changes decision-making, movement patterns, tension, timing, and confidence once the round matters.

The problem? You can’t always fix your on-course misses on the driving range… because the range feels safe. The pressure, consequences, fear, and emotional attachment simply aren’t there.

Justin shares firsthand how certain swing issues never appeared during warmups, but immediately showed up under pressure — leading into a deeper conversation about:

• Why your brain protects you during golf
• How fear and ego influence your swing
• Why the course exposes different patterns than practice
• The difference between playing golf and playing golf swing
• How to manage your mind instead of fighting it
• Why adaptation beats perfection during a round
• How to play the game you have that day

This is one of the most honest and practical conversations yet on the mental side of golf performance — and why understanding your brain may be the missing piece to playing more freely under pressure.