Men will do anything but go to therapy.

When pictures popped up of American pro golfer Ryan McCormick rocking tape across his mouth during a golf championship last week, it's safe to say my interest was piqued.

It turns out it was a last-ditch effort by the 33-year-old to control his temper.

Yep. Mouth taping. As in: the stuff we were all vaguely curious about when wellness influencers tried it on TikTok for "better sleep" — now being used as an anger management strategy on the green.

Naturally, the internet had thoughts. One response seemed to crop up again and again in the comments of news outlets sharing the image:

"Men will do anything but go to therapy."

And while McCormick hasn't shared whether he is seeking the help of a professional, it's true that men often struggle to access mental health support.

In fact, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that 21.6 per cent of women accessed a mental health professional between 2020 and 2022, compared to just 12.9 per cent of men.

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Because for all the jokes, there's something deeply fascinating about this: a grown man literally taping his mouth shut.

He hasn't spoken openly of seeing a psychologist. Or journalling. Or I don't know… breathing exercises? No, his solution is mouth tape.

In McCormick's defence, the golfer said he's "tried a lot of things" to control his temper while playing, including reading books and talking to people (although it's not clear whether that means friends and family or qualified mental health professionals who can actually help).

"Been having not-so-fun times this year on the golf course. Pretty angry and mad," he said in a video shared by the Korn Ferry Tour on Friday. "I just figured I'd shut myself up. So I put tape over my mouth."

He said he didn't want to create a negative experience for his playing partners, which is quite thoughtful. But I'd still suggest therapy for the long haul.

"I was hoping maybe that it would help me. Can't say that it did or didn't. It certainly makes you breathe. I felt like Bane, like Batman, muzzle myself," he said.

"I mean, I'm not proud. I don't want to create an experience for my playing partners that's not fair. And it's not fair to me either or other people. Having a tough time, and that was my solution."

In an update, McCormick acknowledged it wasn't the right fix for his temper.

"Obviously this isn't a permanent solution, but this was an exercise I tried to get some better results out there," he wrote on Instagram.

"I hope my fellow golfers can find some humour and comfort knowing that us pros also struggle with the mental challenges that the game throws at you."

Golf is hard.

Ryan McCormick resorted to taping his mouth during R2 of @clubcarchamp. pic.twitter.com/rBjreDoNfN

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) April 4, 2025

This is a single — somewhat amusing — story, but it speaks to a broader trend we see over and over again. A refusal, or perhaps a deep discomfort, from men to unpack complex emotions.

"I don't understand why he can't just work on emotional regulation rather than taping his mouth shut," one person wrote on Instagram. And it's a valid point.

Even in 2025, vulnerability is clearly still a bit taboo for men in high-performance environments. Instead, we're slapping tape on the problem and calling it progress. Is this really where we're at? Emotional regulation via stationery cupboard?

Not to mention the huge double standard that still exists when it comes to emotional outbursts in sport. Because when women show emotion under pressure, it's often called "dramatic" or "unprofessional". When men do it? It's passion. Fire. Competitive spirit.

If a grown man is taping his mouth shut to get through a few rounds of golf, it makes you wonder how heavy the pressure must feel day to day.

Unfortunately for McCormick, his strategy couldn't keep him in the tournament. But he did finish a shot better than the day before.

At least he's trying. But we'd still argue therapy might offer more than the stationery aisle ever could.

Feature image: Getty.