When Richard Mansell lifted the Porsche Singapore Classic trophy earlier this year, it wasn’t just the reward for another week of solid ball-striking. It was the product of a transformation that began not on the driving range—but 15,000 feet above it.
Yes, really. Just weeks before Singapore, Mansell took to the skies for a skydive—a fearless plunge at the urging of his new mindset coach, a former SAS soldier and one of the architects of S.A.S. Who Dares Wins. It wasn’t about swing tweaks or new putting drills. It was about facing his fears head-on, smashing the comfort zone that had held him back, and proving to himself that he was ready to handle anything.
And it worked. Five birdies in a row on Sunday, a calm that spoke louder than the leaderboard, and a first DP World Tour win that signalled he was done playing it safe.
But Mansell’s breakthrough wasn’t just mental. It was also about going back to what he knows and trusts—signing again with Titleist to bring stability and consistency to his game. Now, as he heads into the heart of the European Swing, Mansell’s future has never looked brighter—or more fearlessly focused.
“Turkey was a perfect example,” Mansell reflects on the weeks after his Singapore triumph. “I didn’t play my best golf, but I hung around. I was tidy on the greens, and by Sunday afternoon, I was in the mix.”
Winning in Singapore granted him the luxury of playing without the suffocating need to prove himself. For a player who admits to “wanting it too badly” in the past, the sense of freedom is priceless. “I’m no longer fighting for a job, which is a new position to be in,” he says, smiling. “And that changes everything. You’re not perfect every week, but you can still get the job done.”
Mansell’s rise in the game has always been fuelled by his prodigious power off the tee. But this season, he’s realised that birdies come not just from brute strength, but also from mental clarity. “You can’t worry about anyone else,” he says. “It’s all about creating your own small wins and stacking them up.”
That mental shift didn’t happen by chance. It was forged by an unlikely alliance with a mindset coach whose CV includes service in the British Special Forces and a starring role in the TV series S.A.S. Who Dares Wins. Forget your traditional psychologist with theories and journal entries—Mansell’s new guide knows nothing about golf. And that’s precisely what makes him invaluable.
“He couldn’t get his head around the fact that I was scared of golf shots,” Mansell laughs. “He’s like, ‘Try being shot at on the front line.’”
The coach challenged Mansell to confront his fears head-on—quite literally. “A few weeks before Singapore, I was terrified of heights,” he admits. “He told me, ‘If you want something great, you’ve got to walk towards what scares you.’ So I did it. And it changed everything.”
That jump from the sky mirrored the back-nine moments in golf—those times when the stakes are highest and the fear of failure can be paralysing. “I realised that if I wanted something great, I couldn’t shy away from it,” he says. “I had to walk towards it.”
The result? Five birdies in a row on the front nine of the final round in Singapore. “I wasn’t even aware that I did it,” Mansell says. “I got into that state of flow where everything felt effortless. It wasn’t luck—it was the work I’d put in.”
This new perspective didn’t just help him survive the pressure of a final-round charge—it redefined how he sees the game altogether. “We get paid to play golf,” he says simply. “If I miss a five-footer or lose a golf ball, it doesn’t matter in the grand scheme. That’s a big thing I’ve had to accept.”
Mansell’s transformation hasn’t been solely psychological. He’s also taken a fresh look at his equipment and technical approach. “I re-signed with Titleist this year,” he says. “Last year I was a free agent, and I messed around too much—trying new things, switching gear. I know what I’m like—I love shiny new things. But that can be a distraction. Signing back with Titleist gave me stability and took away that temptation to tinker.”
His work with a new putting coach has been equally impactful. “He got me away from being too technical and helped me understand how to train properly at home and at tournaments,” Mansell says. “It’s not about being perfect anymore. I’ve realised that I’ll always make enough birdies—I just need to be more professional and cut out the mistakes.”
It’s a lesson he sees echoed in the approach of the game’s best. “Look at Scottie Scheffler,” he says. “He didn’t play great at the USPGA, but he hung around and ended up winning by five. You’ve got to understand that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Even when you’re not at your best, you’ve got to be smart.”
Helping him stay smart is a new caddie, whose experience has been invaluable. “He’s been out here a lot longer than I have,” Mansell says. “He’s caddied in a Ryder Cup, in Majors—he just says it how it is. He’s someone I respect, and that’s been huge for me.”
Together, they form a team that’s learning how to manage the highs and lows of the tour. “That first week in Singapore, he really helped me stay calm,” Mansell says. “It’s made me appreciate how big a role caddies play in our game.”
Away from the fairways, Mansell has found a fresh sense of stability—and it’s rooted firmly in Dubai. Living there with his partner Ellie and their dog Arnie, he’s discovered the perfect blend of hard work and balance. “Living at Jumeirah Golf Estates has been massive,” he says. “I can jump in my buggy, be on the putting green in two minutes, and still be home for lunch.”
He’s not just content to rent either. “I’m looking to buy somewhere soon,” he says. “I’ve really come to appreciate my time at home, and Dubai has given me that chance to recharge and refocus.”
This newfound stability is something he’s determined to maintain. “Life on tour is intense—airports, travel, delays. But when I’m home, I’m not wasting time or energy. That’s been a huge part of my improvement this year.”
Despite his breakthrough in Singapore, Mansell remains grounded in the process. “Of course I have goals,” he says. “Winning was an amazing feeling, but it doesn’t just happen again because you want it to. You’ve got to go back, keep building those 1% gains and trust that they’ll add up.”
The biggest prize? A PGA Tour card—an ambition that burns bright for Mansell. “I think some of the courses out there suit me a bit more,” he says. “I’ve won now, I know what it takes to win, and I want to kick on. Getting into those end-of-year playoffs means you’re competing at the highest level, and that’s where I want to be.”
As the European Swing unfolds, Richard Mansell is no longer just another young pro chasing status. He’s a proven winner with the perspective of a skydiver and the calm of a Special Forces veteran. With the Singapore Classic as his springboard and Dubai as his sanctuary—both mentally and physically—Mansell has built a game, and a life, that’s ready for whatever comes next. n
