Mom is Tadd Fujikawa's swing coach
Lori Fujikawa is the mother of 16-year-old golfing phenom Tadd Fujikawa, who just made history by becoming the second youngest player ever to make a PGA cut. Mrs. Fujikawa works at an auto body shop, doing clerical work, but she also serves as Tadd's one and only swing coach. That's right: swing coach.
This is absolutely mind-boggling. Just think about it for a few seconds: Michelle Wie, who's 6'1", has had the best swing coaches around, from Gary Gilchrist to Mr. David Leadbetter, but over the past 3 years, she's gotten further away from making a PGA cut. Then there's Tadd Fujikawa, who's only 5'1", has only had mom as swing coach, yet the kid not only makes a PGA cut, but he finishes 20th at the Sony Open. (More from USAToday)
7 Comments:
I think Leadbetter and his complicated and detailed approach could screw up God's swing let a lone an impressionable teenager.
Leadbetter seemed to work pretty well for Nick Faldo in the late 1980s and '90s. Yeah, he never managed to succeed. Granted, Faldo was infinitely more talented than Michelle Wie, but that's not Leadbetter's fault.
I know someone who belongs to one of the better C.C.s in the country and maybe 10 years ago, a friend of his was able to retire in his 40s and since he was right around a scratch golfer, he got the idea to go to Leadbetter in the hope he could get good enough for the Champions tour. Not sure how long he was there but would guess a month or more. Came back a 16 handicap.
Ouch!
Leadbetter has helped many, many Tour pros, Faldo and Els included. My guess is that waxman is a complete chop who thinks that "drive a stake through the top of your head" is the height of swing theory.
Leadbetter has to be a good teacher. Otherwise, I think his peers would have exposed him as a fraud.
Having said that, Leadbetter did have a disagreement w/ Greg Norman and didn't really improve his game. Also, David Duval worked with Leadbetter during his slump, and it didn't help.
I guess the question I would ask: who is Leadbetter's star pupil right now and how close is that person to becoming a major winner?
Els has worked strictly with Leadbetter or his disciples (Robert Baker, etc) for many years. He's probably the best (or at least has won the most majors).
Check out my photoblog about golf in the Algarve, Portugal.
Post a Comment
<< Home