Tour News
Snedeker hires Butch Harmon as new coach
Brandt Snedeker has ended his seven-year relationship with coach Todd Anderson and will be employing the services of Butch Harmon.
Snedeker was fourth in the Official World Golf Ranking just last year. Regardless of your opinion of the absolute validity of the ranking system, the fact that Snedeker is now 33rd can’t be construed as a good thing.
The 2012 FedExCup winner met with Harmon in Las Vegas earlier this week and plans to work on a lower ball flight and an improved release, according to Brian Wacker of PGATour.com.
Harmon, of course, has long had a stable that includes a “who’s who” of the world’s best golfers. Presently, he works with Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and Jimmy Walker. Rickie Fowler, too, joined Team Harmon earlier this season and has seen some quality results, most notably finishing tied for second at the U.S. Open.
Snedeker, now 33, is having a poor season.
In 2013, he made 17 of 23 cuts, finished inside the top 10 nine times and won twice. This season, he’s made 15 of 18 cuts but has just two top-10s. Although he finished tied for ninth at the U.S. Open, he wasn’t a factor at the Masters, where he finished tied for 37th.
Statistically, Snedeker’s numbers with the driver look much the same as they did last year. However, he’s fallen from 79th to 134th in greens in regulation (65.6 to 63.4 percent).
He was sixth in birdie average on tour last year, making 3.9 per round. This season, he’s fallen to 111th in the category. He’s fallen from 13th to 125th in scoring average on Tour as well.
Here’s more evidence of his difficulty finding the putting surface, courtesy of PGATour.com (percentage, ranking).
Additionally, Sneds has lost nearly a mile per hour of ball speed. In 2014 he’s averaging 162.4 mph (150th). In 2013 he averaged 163.3 mph, which could be absolutely meaningless as his driving distance has improved. Still, it’s something Harmon is likely to take note of.
There are obvious areas of concern for the Vanderbilt alum and a changing of the guards in the coach department seems to be in order.
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News
Photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
GolfWRX is live this week at the Wells Fargo Championship as a field of the world’s best golfers descend upon Charlotte, North Carolina, hoping to tame the beast that is Quail Hollow Club in this Signature Event — only Scottie Scheffler, who is home awaiting the birth of his first child, is absent.
From the grounds at Quail Hollow, we have our usual assortment of general galleries and WITBs — including a look at left-hander Akshay Bhatia’s setup. Among the pullout albums, we have a look inside Cobra’s impressive new tour truck for you to check out. Also featured is a special look at Quail Hollow king, Rory McIlroy.
Be sure to check back throughout the week as we add more galleries.
General Albums
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Monday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Akshay Bhatia – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matthieu Pavon – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Keegan Bradley – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Webb Simpson – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Emiliano Grillo – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Taylor Pendrith – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Kevin Tway – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
Pullout Albums
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rory McIlroy – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Eric Cole’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matt Kuchar’s custom Bettinardi – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Justin Thomas – driver change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler – putter change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s new custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Tommy Fleetwood testing a TaylorMade Spider Tour X (with custom neck) – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Cobra Darkspeed Volition driver – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying about our Wells Fargo Championship photos in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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marcel
Jul 13, 2014 at 11:38 pm
good on you Sned. hope the new coach helps and brings new view on the game.
Braxton
Jul 12, 2014 at 11:06 pm
I think it’s got potential. I’m sure Brandt is plenty grateful for Todd’s work with him. In the end, he’s just gotta think about his own career, making the most of the last half of it or so. A coaching change should at least be tried.
TheFightingEdFioris
Jul 10, 2014 at 12:22 pm
I like the move.. I doubt he is going to a “fuller” release DC, he already has what looks to be a very full release and just hits high knuckleballs. Ask the best players– Spin is King on Tour. Ricky is a better player now become he spins it so much more. There’s a reason Tiger has always played the softest prototype ball on tour.
DC
Jul 11, 2014 at 6:44 am
Yeah I cant comment on the release aspect, only can read his own quotes in almost every blurb:
“PGATour.com followed up on Golf Channel’s original article, reporting that one of Snedeker’s motivating factors for making the switch was to “bring his ball flight down and to better release the club.””
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DC
Jul 9, 2014 at 7:29 pm
Seems odd to me for a number of reasons.
Todd Andersen seems like a pretty good instructor – and yes that is sarcasm, he is a *great* instructor. He couldn’t teach how to hit it with a lower ballflight or a fuller release? Sea Island is a pretty windy place, seems like he could teach him a lower ball flight if that is what he wanted.
He goes from being arguable the biggest fish in the S.I. stable to sharing time with a half dozen star players right now?
His cut % is up from 73% in 2013 to 83% so far in 2014. And his GIR % is only down 2 percentage points? I mean its not like B.S. has completely fallen off the face of the Earth.
All that being said, Sneds seems like a pretty bright guy and if he thinks this will work, more power to him. Changing coaches is not exactly an uncommon thing especially if you are struggling.