Meeting sports psychologist helped revive his golf career.

BROUSSARD — He had the solid swing mechanics ... has had those, ever since he tied for the Sun Belt Conference’s individual title back in 1996 as a freshman member of University o Louisiana’s golf team.

When he turned professional in 1999 following a four-time all-conference collegiate career, he expected that success to continue.

But over most of the past five years, Greg Sonnier knew something was missing.

“I knew it wasn’t technical,” Sonnier said. “My mind and my confidence were keeping me from winning.”

The lanky Lake Charles native had some bright moments in that stretch. He narrowly missed making the Texas Open field in Monday qualifying, and he had some successful tournaments on the Hooters and Tight Lies tours.

But the consistency that had been his hallmark as a collegian wasn’t there. He struggled much of the 2000 and 2001 seasons. For a two-month period in 2002, he caddied for longtime friend and fellow ex-Cajun Mike Heinen on the PGA Tour.

Now, it’s a whole new Greg Sonnier that will be in action this week when the Nationwide Tour stops at Le Triomphe Golf Club for the 13th Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by Dynamic Industries.

He’s found his game, he’s been successful on the mini-tours, he’s freshly married and he’s hoping to make himself a regular fixture on the Nationwide Tour with a strong showing this week.

And he owes much of that success to a trip from Lake Charles to Dallas last year, and to meeting Jeff Troeche.

Troeche is a sports psychologist with Performax Golf Academy in Dallas, and Sonnier worked with Troeche and a swing specialist for an extended period.

“Nobody ever wants to admit something’s wrong,” Sonnier said, “but sometimes you have to hit bottom before you get help. This isn’t rocket science, it’s just having confidence that you can play on this level.”

“Jeff has helped me look at the big picture.”

Sonnier returned to the Tight Lies tour and finished fifth in that tour’s stop in Tupelo, Miss. At the end of the year, he had top-10 finishes in four of the last five Tight Lies tournaments.

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com