Mel Reid Discusses her Victory and Our Work on Mental Strength

Reid credits the turnaround in fortunes to Howard Falco, her mental strength coach. Shortly before the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon in August she asked her agent if there were any psychologists with whom she could work, as she was “sick and tired of playing shit”.

A shortlist of names was returned and Reid was drawn to Falco, a self-empowerment expert from Chicago. They speak on the phone on Wednesdays — the day before a tournament — and then after each round. When they spoke on Sunday, Reid thanked Falco for changing her life. “He’s on to me, which I need because I get very complacent,” Reid says. “He doesn’t let me take anything [for granted].”