From tee time to family time: Tyler Collet’s guide to a balanced life

“Record breaking. Consistent. Dominant.” That’s how The PGA of America describes professional golfer Tyler Collet. This year, Tyler was named the 2025 PGA Professional Champion by a record-breaking margin.

With this victory, Tyler not only received the monetary grand prize, but also exemptions in six PGA Tour events over the next year. It’s a heady win, and one that carries with it a lot of pride — and a lot of pressure.

On Guardian’s Mind, Body, and Wallet ® podcast, Tyler reveals that it’s not all cheering crowds; there are challenges he’s had to overcome on the road to victory. 

One of the biggest hurdles? “It’s lonely,” Tyler admits. Traveling solo, separated from family, and spending long hours in hotel rooms can take a toll. “Sometimes, when I’m done practicing and I’m in a town I’ve never been in, I don’t have anything to do after 4 pm except spend time in my hotel room.” That’s why filling time with calls, dinners with friends, or anything that keeps his mind off the distance and solitude is so important.

For Tyler, well-being starts at home. “Having a proper support system at home is number one,” he says. Tyler credits his wife, Sadie, kids, and parents for keeping him grounded and motivated. “I’m not just performing for myself; I’m performing for them as well.”

Tyler admits that while he’s not perfect at balancing everything, he’s intentional. Practice is scheduled around family time. “I try not to miss any dinners or bedtimes,” he shares. And when he’s home, he makes a conscious effort to leave golf at the door and simply be present with his family.

Staying healthy on the road, both in mind and in body 

Travel is a huge part of Tyler’s life, and it’s not always fun. “Eating healthy on the road is difficult,” he confesses. But he’s learning; he tries to cook his own meals when possible and cut back on soda.

Tyler works with a golf-specific trainer, focusing on lower body and core movements. On the road, he improvises with resistance bands and hotel room workouts. For mental wellness, meditation and visualization are key. “I try to meditate a little bit in the mornings, thinking about the round and each hole,” he says.

When the pressure mounts, Tyler relies on breathing techniques to calm his nerves. “The only thing you can control is yourself and what you do, and take one shot at a time,” he reminds himself.

The need for a financial wellness cushion  

One surprising lesson Tyler shares is about the need to be “selfish”— golf is, after all, ultimately a solo sport. Camaraderie on the course can only go so far until the drive to compete kicks in. But for Tyler, it’s also how he provides for his loved ones. “Ultimately, my family comes first,” he explains. 

That perspective helps him feel more at peace about being away from them.

Golf isn’t just unpredictable on the course — it’s unpredictable financially, too. “In the golf business, you can have one good week, and it will set you up for the whole year,” he says. But that’s usually not the case. That’s why it’s so important to Tyler and Sadie to be proactive about financial planning, invest each month, and grow their savings. Most professional golfers don’t depend on a single large windfall; instead, they earn income frequently throughout the year in smaller tournaments. Proactive planning helps him to better ride out the financial dips. “If I have a tough week, it’s not the end of the world for us,” he says.

Growing success, growing family  

 Since working with Guardian, Tyler has welcomed another major win in his life — the birth of his second son, Charlie, who joins his older brother, Theodore, to round out the Collet family.

Tyler’s story is a reminder that well-being is about more than just physical health — it’s about family, mental resilience, and financial confidence. Whether you’re a golfer or just trying to find balance in your own life, his advice rings true: surround yourself with support, stay present, and don’t forget to breathe.