%20(13).avif)
Suzann Pettersen has spent most of her life at the absolute peak of professional golf.
She chased the world number one ranking, captained two Solheim Cup teams, and now travels the world running her own player management agency, VOXA.
From the outside, she is the ultimate, unapologetic competitor—a fiercely driven player whose own husband might have once described her as "cold-hearted" and "stone-faced".
But in this chat, she drops her guard.
Suzann talks about the severe back injuries that literally left her crawling into a doctor's office. She talks about the calculated selfishness required to be an elite athlete, freely admitting it took her five years into a relationship to start saying "we" instead of "me".
It’s an honest conversation about the brutal physical toll of the 24/7 golf grind , the sudden identity crisis of being grounded by pregnancy complications , and the exact, unspoken moment on the 18th green when she knew her playing career was completely over.
Suzann talks about some intense realities in this episode: brutal physical injuries, cultural pushback against her childhood ambitions, and the extreme isolation of elite sports. But what comes through most is how deeply self-aware and grounded she has become. There’s no performance. She just tells you how a doctor doubted whether she'd ever play again, and how she used that doubt to fire all her cylinders the other way just to prove him wrong.
She’s incredibly candid, too. She freely admits that her ego vanished the second she became a mother, and that being a good mm is harder than playing professional golf.
What makes Suzann’s story worth listening to is her absolute clarity on what matters when the "dream bubble" of professional sports finally pops. The recalibration here is about shedding the athlete identity to embrace life as a mother and a mentor. Working out that success isn't just about adding another trophy to the cabinet, but using her self-described "rebel-ish" spirit to shake up a 60-year-old traditional industry and genuinely put the next generation of female players first.
If parts of Paul's story land with you, these might be useful:
Mental health and sports psychology (Global) - BelievePerform provides applied sports psychology resources for athletes, coaches, and professionals dealing with performance anxiety, burnout, and transitioning out of sport.
🔗 believeperform.com
Mental health support and advice (UK) - Mind provides information, helplines, and local support options for dealing with stress, identity shifts, and depression.
🔗 mind.org.uk
Therapy and support (US) - Mental Health America provides screenings, resources, and links to affordable support for managing life transitions and mental wellbeing.
🔗 mhanational.org
Maternal mental health support (UK) - PANDAS Foundation offers advice and support to individuals and their networks who are navigating the challenges of pregnancy and adjusting to parenthood.
🔗 pandasfoundation.org.uk
.avif)
.jpg)
.avif)
