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Paul Cormack has spent most of his adult life in golf. He played professionally on the mini-tours for a decade , and now travels the world as an elite LPGA Tour caddie, currently carrying the bag for Lydia Ko.
From the outside, he’s the calm, logical guy walking alongside the best players on the planet.
This conversation goes somewhere else.
Paul talks about the exact moment he realised his playing career was over, courtesy of a competitor's 6-iron . He talks about the absolute myth of the 'bulletproof' athlete , and what it actually feels like to stand on the first tee of a tournament battling massive imposter syndrome .
It’s an honest conversation about the reality of life inside the ropes and why the secret to high-stakes performance is often just taking a player's mind off the golf entirely.
Paul talks about some interesting stuff in this episode: the end of a playing career, the relentless grind, the bizarre pressure of elite sport. But what comes through most is how aggressively normal he is . There’s no performance. He just tells you he was getting out-driven by 6-irons and eventually decided to carry a bag instead .
He’s funny, too. And pragmatic in a way that feels almost jarring in a world obsessed with 'optimising' everything . At one point he casually mentions he eats the exact same ham and cheese sandwich every single day, and you realise he’s completely serious.
What makes Paul’s story worth listening to is his absolute refusal to let his job become his identity. The recalibration here is about keeping life beautifully, stubbornly simple . Working out that success isn't about the trophies you help win—which he keeps tucked away in a drawer—but just trying your absolute best and being remembered as a decent bloke.
If parts of Paul's story land with you, these might be useful:
Mental health support and advice (UK) - Mind provides information, helplines, and local support options for dealing with stress, burnout, and anxiety in the workplace.
🔗 mind.org.uk
Anxiety and stress support (UK) - Anxiety UK offers support and help if you're dealing with performance anxiety, imposter syndrome, or general stress.
🔗 anxietyuk.org.uk
Mental health and sports psychology (Global) - BelievePerform provides applied sports psychology resources for athletes, coaches, and professionals dealing with performance anxiety, burnout, and mental health.
🔗 believeperform.com
Therapy and support (US) - Mental Health America provides screenings, resources, and links to affordable support for managing stress and life transitions.
🔗 mhanational.org
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