Butch Harmon: Adam Scott, not Phil Mickelson, is his No.1 student, but Phil has "very good" chance of catching Tiger
Butch Harmon may have the biggest ego of any swing coach. He's spoken publicly for the first time about his new pupil Phil Mickelson.
First, he's made clear that Phil Mickelson is not his main horse, Adam Scott is. “I’m not Rick Smith. I’m not going to spend 24/7 time with Phil. When he needs help I’ll be there with him. ...But if you’re asking me who’s at the top of the totem pole, Adam Scott is my main client. And I’ve explained that to Phil.”
But Butch thinks he can get Mickelson to contend with Tiger Woods for the No. 1 ranking in a few years. “The first priority is to get Phil to drive the ball in the fairway more consistently and to control the ball through the air,” Harmon said. “You will definitely see a different-looking swing from Phil Mickelson in Dallas this week. ...It’s going to be very difficult to challenge Tiger Woods this year for No. 1 because Tiger has such a big lead in the points. But Phil has the talent and the desire and he has finally realized that he had to make changes. I think he has a very good chance of catching Tiger in the next couple of years.” (More here)
10 Comments:
smart move on butch's part - stick to a young gun who just needs to learn how to consistantly putt who is coachable
that is the key word - coachability - butch knows that phil is a loose cannon who can't control his urges on the course - butch is not a yes man like rick smith so he will take lefties money and give him straight advice but he is not going to throw away a rainmaker like adam scott for an aging know-it-all loose cannon- who noboby can control
mickelfolp, regardless of his talent is getting up there in years and he does no train like some of the other older guys at the top - i give philly man boobs another 5 years and 1 or 2 more majors - a very good career boardering on great but not quite -
butch is too savvy to fall for phil but he will help him if the flopster listens - that is really the big question.
Seriously, by your criteria, 5 majors total and probably 5-10 more wins over the next 5 years wouldn't be a "great" career in the Tiger era?
Um, that would be a historically great career.
Butch Harmon says: "I think he has a very good chance of catching Tiger in the next couple of years.” Yeah, right. And Bush & co. will win the war in Iraq and peace will break out all over the Middle East. Harmon is saying all the right things to hang on to his cash cow for as long as possible. It's all about oil and it's all about money for Harmon.
why is it that in the tiger era expectations are lower for players? i stick by my above point - a very good career but not great - save the "great" career tag for players that reach the statue of jones, hagen, byron nelson, sneed, hogan, palmer, player, nickalus, watson, woods.
phil will end up in the next level with guys like floyd, faldo. norman, trevino, seve, johnny miller etc. - there are many more at this level - the point is my definition of "great" is having a career like the first group and i do not believe that he will reach that level of stature - which i consider to be "great" v. the next level "very good"
the reasons phil cannot reach that first level - although he has the raw talent to do so- are many. there are just too many things about him - mostly on the mental side of things that have and will continue to prevent the goofy grinning flop artist from achieving the greatness that seems to be just slightly out of his grasp. i think that this is something butch knows and it is why he bent over backwards to make it clear that adam scott is his top priority.
"phil will end up in the next level with guys like floyd, faldo. norman, trevino, seve, johnny miller etc." Very astute observation. However, I think you were a bit gratuitous in your 'A' list. Sneed? Player? A little more review is necessary in my opinion.
I don't think you can divide "Great" and "Good" in such a blunt fashion. Take someone like Faldo. Six majors, multiple wins on Euro tour. Enormous contribution to Ryder Cup. Pretty impressive resume but one that some would class as "great", and others just "very good". But what is sometimes overlooked is that Faldo didn't have the same opportunities to compete in the majors as Americans golfers have and had (or the young Europeans have today). He didn't get his first invite to the US Open until 1984 (and it was only his third Masters invite in 1984). This despite already having 4 top-12 finishes in the British Open, 11 Euro wins by the end of 1983, and finishing in the top-4 of the European Order of Merit 4 times between 1978-1982.
Similarly, take someone like Ian Woosnam. His first US Open was in 1989. Again, despite not finishing outside the top-9 on the Euro Order of Merit from 1982 onwards.
There is, then, a point to be made about how "greatness" corresponds to opportunity (in terms of the opportunity to compete in the major tournaments).But whether that includes the fact that someone is said to have less opportunities to win because someone else is winning them all (i.e. Tiger), I'm not so sure...
snead? player? are you kidding,
snead = 7 majors, 82 pga victories(most all time) plus a total of 160 professional victories
player = 9 majors (career grand slam), 132 worldwide victories
great - you bet your ass these guys fit the bill - do some research before you make comments, jerky boy
One thing I observed ... Phil Mickleson has squandered numerous opportunities to win Majors ... The melt down at the US Open is a clear indication, Mickleson has achieved his pinnacle of golf greatness ... even with Butch Harmon's help, Mickleson will regarded as a above average PGA Tour Golfer
Way to go, Graham for coming up with that very creative rationalization and excuse for your two English (ok...Woosie is Welsh, but that's still a pom) compatriots. Somehow I don't think your "lack of opportunity" argument is going to catch fire and gain credence with the masses. Good try though.
Phil now (with butch) will win.. play exceptionall well.. and win. shoot low scores.. and win. and some more wins.. This in my opinion is the best thing that has hapenned with phil.. GETTING OUT OF THE STATISCIAN's CIRCLE OF SCIENTIFIC GOLF..(dave pelz golf) yes I strongly believe that now phil will we (phil's
fans) BELIEVE he is capable of and the reason we are his fans.. PHIL with butch will win.. play well.. and win.. and again win some more..
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