Tour News

Snedeker hires Butch Harmon as new coach

Published

10 years ago

Jul 9, 2014

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).

Screen shot 2014-07-09 at 6.49.47 PM

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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6 Comments

marcel

Jul 13, 2014 at 11:38 pm

good on you Sned. hope the new coach helps and brings new view on the game.

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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.

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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.

Reply Report comment
- 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.””
  
  Reply Report comment
Pingback: Snedeker’s hires Butch Harmon as new coach | Spacetimeandi.com
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.

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