This article distills the insights shared by Dr. Rob Bell with guest Mia Hammond, highlighting the moments, habits, and mindset that helped Mia Hammond rise from junior events to an Epson Tour victory and a commitment to Duke University. Dr. Rob Bell’s conversation with Mia explores pressure, setbacks, practical routines, and clear strategies that aspiring players can adopt.

Table of Contents1. Early spark: multi-sport roots and the competitive ignition2. Augusta National: a hinge moment under pressure3. From Monday qualifying to the Epson Tour win: execution under a new spotlight4. Mental tools and the value of a support network5. The father-caddie dynamic: presence, calm, and levity6. Setbacks that taught patience: the DQ, reputation, and recovery7. Balance and practical advice for juniors facing burnout1. Early spark: multi-sport roots and the competitive ignition

Mia Hammond didn’t start as a single-sport prodigy. She played softball, basketball and gymnastics before focusing on golf around age 10–11. That multi-sport foundation contributed balance, coordination, and competitive instincts.

One hinge moment for Mia Hammond early memory came from a US Kids event where a sixth-place finish at age seven stung so much she vowed to earn a medal. “The top five received a medal… I wanted a medal so bad,” she recalls — and two years later she won her first US Kids tournament. That hunger shaped the trajectory that would follow.

2. Augusta National: a hinge moment under pressure

The Drive, Chip & Putt win at Augusta National in 2022 was transformative. Mia remembers the surreal logistics — a separate practice area, assigned chipping spots, and intense restrictions that made the stage feel enormous. Standing over the final putt with rows of people behind her, she admits: “I was pretty nervous.”

That experience delivered more than a trophy. It introduced media exposure, live interviews, and interaction with iconic figures — experiences that built both poise and perspective for later pressure-filled weeks.

3. From Monday qualifying to the Epson Tour win: execution under a new spotlight

Mia’s ascent included shooting a 66 in Monday qualifying, making the cut at an LPGA junior event, playing on the Junior Solheim Cup, and ultimately becoming the first amateur in five years to win on the Epson Tour at the Greater Toledo Classic.

The Toledo week showed how small adjustments and steady execution win tournaments. After some mid-week nerves, a technical tweak in the transition — “slow it down, keep it smooth” — stabilized her ball-striking. She carried a lead into the final round for the first time at that level and had to defend it, a new psychological challenge: “Everyone was chasing me and I was the one they were waiting for to slip up.”

4. Mental tools and the value of a support network

Mia credits access to a sports psychologist and coaches on the US Developmental National Team with helping her manage expectations and pressure. Mentorship — from coaches who’ve been at the college and pro level — gave actionable perspective and helped convert practice into performance.

She emphasizes modeling: surround yourself with players better than you, watch their reps, and target specific parts of the game to improve. Practically, that translated into measurable gains in her iron and wedge play inside 120 yards — the strength of her game.

5. The father-caddie dynamic: presence, calm, and levity

Mia Hammond credits her dad as a constant presence — from early simulator sessions in the basement to being on the bag during professional events. His reminders kept her grounded in Toledo: “This is no different than anything else… you’ve already proven yourself.”

“What happens from here on out is just gravy.”

That blend of reassurance and light-hearted bets (yes, shoes were at stake) allowed Mia to stay present and keep nerves from escalating into panic during the final-round pressure cooker.

6. Setbacks that taught patience: the DQ, reputation, and recovery

Mia openly shares a painful stretch after signing the wrong scorecard at a combined LPGA/AJGA event which resulted in disqualification. Though she called the mistake on herself, the fallout lingered however— affecting confidence, recruiting conversations, and how she thought about performance.

Working with a sports psychologist she reframed the experience and recognized it had become a persistent worry. Letting go of that weight and rebuilding incrementally was the breakthrough: “Finally letting that go… helped me break through.”

7. Balance and practical advice for juniors facing burnout

Mia stresses the need for separation between golf and life. She keeps a secondary social account that isn’t filled with golf content and chooses friends who don’t play, preserving outlets like pickleball, pool days, and simple downtime.

Her top practical advice to junior players: take breaks and avoid “searching” for fixes when struggling. Make small weekly goals and repeat them until progress accumulates. She learned that impatience and forcing breakthroughs backfire — patience wins.

Conclusion: A roadmap from talent to sustained growth

Mia Hammond has a story which is a compact lesson in combining talent, smart habits, emotional intelligence, and the courage to own mistakes. Her path — from US Kids motivation to an Epson Tour win and a commitment to Duke — underscores that elite development is as much about steady mental work as it is about swing mechanics.

For players and parents seeking a model for growth: focus on quality reps, surround yourself with people who raise the standard, protect reputation through honesty, and allow room for recovery. The mountain-top moments are spectacular — but the ascent is where muscle and patience are forged.

 

Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. DRB & associates coach executives and professional athletes. Some clients have included three different winners on the PGA Tour, Indy Eleven, University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens. 

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