SAVANNAH, Ga. — Ryan McCormick, feeling frustrated with his performance this year on the Korn Ferry Tour, took an unusual step to manage his anger on Friday: he taped his mouth shut.
The Korn Ferry Tour shared a video showing McCormick with clear tape over his mouth, explaining his unconventional tactic.
“I haven`t been enjoying myself much on the golf course this year. I`ve been quite angry and upset,” McCormick admitted after his round. “So I`ve tried many different things, and I just thought I would silence myself. That`s why I put tape over my mouth.”
After starting with a 1-over 73 at the Club Car Championship, he shot a 72, ensuring he would miss the cut.
McCormick explained that one reason for this extraordinary measure was to avoid negatively impacting his playing partners.
“I was hoping it might help me personally. I can`t definitively say if it did or didn`t. It definitely makes you focus on breathing. I felt a bit like Bane from Batman, muzzling myself. I`m not exactly proud of it. I didn’t want to create an unpleasant experience for my playing partners. And frankly, it`s not good for me or anyone else to be around negativity. I`m having a difficult time, and this was my solution for today.”
McCormick, who returned to the Korn Ferry Tour after playing on the PGA Tour in 2024, has only made the cut in three out of six tournaments this season and hasn`t finished in the top 40 yet.
He mentioned that he has tried reading books and seeking advice from others, but nothing seems to be effective.
“I`m out of ideas, and the tape idea crossed my mind a couple of weeks ago,” McCormick said. “Unfortunately, it came to this today.”
