The Mulligan Foundation

After nearly 20 years of playing professional golf, I stepped away from competition in 2019.  I loved being a present dad and being home with my wife and two kids. But over time, I began to sense something was deeply wrong. The “Steve” I had spent my whole life becoming seemed to disappear. I felt depressed, unmotivated, and I turned to alcohol to numb the pain. I grew to hate myself, and for the first time, I truly understood what it meant to be “suffering in silence.”

   It wasn’t until I finally sought treatment that I began to feel like myself again. During that process, I realized how hard it was to reach out to traditional therapists or hotlines. Instead, I found myself looking for peers — other athletes who had walked through the same struggles and come out the other side. Hearing from people who truly “understood” was what I needed most. And I know I’m not alone. That’s how many athletes are wired.

    There has to be a better way forward. That’s why we built this initiative — to not only support current athletes who are struggling, but to prepare junior and collegiate athletes for what may come if they pursue professional sports. Stress and pressure are inevitable, but we can equip them with better tools to handle it.

    We want to be part of the change. To be difference makers. To save lives, protect identities, and help athletes rediscover purpose beyond the game.