In this episode of Golf & Politics, Matt sits down with Stephen Carney, a former professional golfer who competed on PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Latin America, before stepping away from the game and rebuilding his life off the course.

Stephen opens up about:

Starting golf later than most elite players — and catching up fast

Junior golf, college golf at the University of Tulsa, and the grind of mini-tours

The brutal economics of professional golf

The mental toll of Q-School, Monday qualifiers, and razor-thin margins

Why great players don’t always “make it” — and what actually separates those who do

Walking away from pro golf, becoming a CPA, and regaining amateur status

The controversy around former pros playing elite amateur events

Mindset, pressure, meritocracy, and life after chasing the dream

We also hit a fast-paced Shotgun 9 to close it out — covering politics, taxes, clutch shots, Oklahoma golf courses, and dream foursomes.

This is an honest, unfiltered conversation about ambition, sacrifice, failure, and redefining success.

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