Pro Golfers Turn To Psychedelics For Focus Boost And Anxiety Relief

In an unexpected turn, some elite golfers are trading traditional pharmaceuticals for psychedelics like psilocybin and ayahuasca, hoping to gain a mental edge. As Double Blind reported, while both compounds are associated with altered states, they're increasingly being used in microdoses by golfers seeking to improve focus and reduce performance anxiety. Although the practice remains niche, a growing number of professional players are embracing these substances to elevate their game.

Microdosing On The Course: Psilocybin For Focus And Calm

One top PGA Tour player who wished to remain anonymous recently shared his experience with Golf Digest. "Psilocybin allows me to get a deep breath on the course that I haven't been able to get in years," he said. Since microdosing, he said he's seen measurable performance gains, noting it helps him assess each shot without judgment or fear.

DJ Trahan's Transformation Through Plant Medicine

DJ Trahan, a two-time PGA Tour winner, turned to psychedelics after struggling with his game. His friend Taylor Massey, a former amateur champion who now works as a "psychedelic advisor" for golfers, introduced Trahan to ayahuasca in 2019. Reflecting on his transformative experience, Trahan explained, "My golf had been struggling, and I felt completely lost. I never understood that the answers were within me. Plant medicine gets an unfortunate reputation because people look at it as drugs. They're not honoring it for what it is."

Massey, who helps golfers incorporate psychedelics into their routines, views plant medicine as a natural stress remedy, free from pharmaceuticals. "This is just a natural remedy in tiny doses," he told Golf Digest. Unlike drugs like Zoloft or Wellbutrin, Massey noted, psychedelics offer an alternative stress-management approach, which is gaining popularity among those open to new therapies.

Juniper Reserve Researches Psychedelics And Golf Performance

The trend has caught researchers’ attention. Juniper Reserve in Oregon is collaborating with psychedelics expert Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris to study psilocybin’s impact on golf performance. In the study, golfers take a microdose before teeing off, with a one-hour wait for effects to kick in.

According to Melissa Sanchez, Juniper Reserve's wellness director, the aim is to help golfers "make small modifications within their own practices" that could lead to lasting improvements. Sanchez sees the study as a way to address the mental barriers that players develop over years of repetitive practice. "This is as cutting-edge as health and wellness can be," she said. "In golf, there's this idea that once you've been playing for long enough, you develop specific habits that are hard to break out of."

The Shifting Culture Around Psychedelics In Golf

Though psilocybin and DMT are not banned by golf’s anti-doping rules, psychedelic use in sports remains unconventional. However, with growing interest in their therapeutic benefits, psychedelics are slowly gaining traction in high-stakes environments like golf, where focus is key.

The trend signals a shift in the culture of sports wellness. While pharmaceuticals have long dominated mental health in sports, some players are now turning to psychedelics to boost focus, manage stress and enhance performance.

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