Opinion & Analysis
Why a Tiger-Butch Reunion Won’t Happen
In the hours following the news of a Tiger Woods-Sean Foley split, the cry was neither quiet, nor subtle: TIGER, RETURN TO BUTCH HARMON!
The overwhelming fan chorus advocating Woods’ return to one of his first swing coaches is not exactly a new concept, as the voices have tended to rise from the fog any time the 14-time major champion experienced a period of poor play over the last decade. But the chatter here appears as strong as ever, with Woods’ game in complete disarray, his inability to capture major No. 15 growing more harrowing by the day and his third divorce from a swing instructor now complete.
The lineup for a reunion with Harmon has organized itself immaculately, except for one issue: There’s no way it happens. Anthony Kim has a better chance of winning the Grand Slam next year than of the formation of Tiger Woods-Butch Harmon, Part Deux.
If I’m crushing any dreams, I’m sorry in advance. But the reality here is bleak.
Since his split with Harmon in 2002, Woods has expressed no desire, not even a hint, that he wishes to return to his swing coach of nearly a decade. And the feeling goes both ways. Harmon hasn’t iterated any longing for a reunion, and he’s already shot down the possibility that now might be the time for his re-pairing with Woods.
Actually, Harmon has distanced himself pretty much as far as he could from Woods in the immediate aftermath of his most recent coaching divorce. Not only did the 70-year-old choose to make his praise of Foley’s work abundantly public, but he also stated his desire to see Woods move forward without a coach. In Harmon’s words then, Woods’ future success is less hindered without a watchful eye over his shoulder, even if those set of binoculars are some of the game’s best.
You can’t always trust people on their initial public pronouncments (See: Saban, Nick), but Harmon’s jetting so quickly away from Woods would be an odd move for a man who wishes to once again control Tiger’s swing.
More than a general lack of mutual interest though, both sides appear intent on severing their past links. Woods is famous for his ability to hold and maintain grudges. Just ask former caddie Stevie Williams, who, three years after his firing, remains ticked at Woods due to the latter’s lack of efforts at reconciliation. The bad fumes between Harmon and Woods really escalated with a very public spat in 2004. While the duo quickly patched things up, and no such catiness has re-appeared in the last decade, don’t think that Woods has forgotten about the animosity the split and its aftermath produced.
On Harmon’s side, the renowned swing instructor has consistently bristled at being known solely for his work with Woods, when he brought Greg Norman to World No. 1, and was pivotal in the careers of Hall of Famers Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Fred Couples, Davis Love III and Jose Maria Olazabal. His frustration boiled over in 2013 when his partnership with President Barack Obama was marred by his being tagged as Woods’ ex-coach. If any person wishes to dissociate himself from his past sessions with Woods, it’s Harmon. And you don’t get rid of that past by returning to the source.
One of the main reasons for the Harmon-Woods split all those years ago was Tiger’s inability to cope with what he perceived to be undue credit heaped on his coach. While he was happy to praise Harmon for his help, Woods at some point felt his star swing instructor was receiving too much of the accolades for his golfing performance.
That serves as a massive hesitation point on Woods’ part because the exact same thing would happen now. Harmon is just as renowned (if not more so) as he was more than a decade ago. Woods is in the midst of the worst year of his career, meaning a return close to his 2013 form, let alone the 2005-2009 or 1999-2002 stuff, would be viewed as a masterful turnaround.
If Harmon steps in and Woods emerges as a significant winner again, it adds up to another love storm for the old coach, with his 38-year-old pupil fuming all the while.
If you don’t agree, just look at all of the slack Hank Haney and Sean Foley have received for not living up to the standard Harmon-Woods set. Fans swoon over the swing of the 24-year-old Tiger Woods in 2000, who led the Tour in Greens in Regulation by nearly 3 percent. But his ball striking was on the same level in 2006, when he also led GIR by a mile, in addition to being T1 in Proximity to the Hole.
His overall performance in 2000 was better than in 2006, but most all of the difference can be attributed to putting. Woods was “only” 22nd in strokes gained putting in 2006, and while that statistic wasn’t compiled in 2000, all of the old putting metrics, not to mention media reports, point to Woods as one of the world’s few best putters that year.
As Haney mentioned in his book, The Big Miss, his record stacks up quite well next to Harmon. The Texan may have the world’s largest inferiority complex, but he does have a point. Woods contended and won at a higher rate under his tutelage than during his stay in Harmon’s stable. And his six majors in 23 attempts next to Harmon’s eight in 24 isn’t too shabby either.
Foley was stuck with a weakened, if still-talented Woods. BFF Brandel Chamblee has called for the coach’s firing ever since 2012, but it’s mostly been unwarranted. It’s unfair to compare Foley to Woods’ past record when he is clearly a lesser player due to aging. If you look at Woods’ two healthy years with Foley, he had eight PGA Tour wins, many of them high profile victories. That’s a pretty good record for a guy past his prime. (Not to mention the fact that critics *cough* Chamblee *cough* have lampooned Woods’ poor performance off the tee with Foley. That’s despite the fact that Woods drove the ball better in 2012 and 2013 than he had since the early 2000s, and this was with a diminished swing speed.)
The latter two coaches continue to receive all of the harsh words while Harmon healthly sits on his pedestal in 2014. Another successful run with Tiger might send him to new heights, irritating Woods exponentially more.
And if all that isn’t enough to deter you, remember that Harmon has iterated his desire to slow down. Adding Woods to his stable does the exact opposite of that. It appears the swing coach is no longer in desire of the whirlwind that is advicing the generation’s best talent.
For all of the reasons above, Woods-Harmon II is not to be. Not in 2014, not ever.
Club Junkie
Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie
On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look.
I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.
Opinion & Analysis
AVL: We’re talking about practice! My best tips for taking your game to the course
With the beginning of June on the horizon and courses rounding into peak condition for the season, it’s time to hone the finer skills that often get rusty over the winter. More sunlight also means more time to get out on the course and work on your game.
Whether it’s the practice green or the driving range, there’s always something to improve—whether you’re enjoying the fresh air or preparing for a weekend game or tournament. You can work on drills or freestyle around the green, and friendly competition is a great way to sharpen your skills.
While there are endless ways to get better at golf, I’m going to focus on practicing around the green. Let’s take a look at a few things to keep in mind as we head into the summer months.
Drills
From the driving range to the practice green, it’s important to incorporate drills into your routine. Years ago, I spent a weekend working on my short game with James Sieckmann. He recommended doing drill work for 5–10 minutes, then returning to your main practice.
This way, you create a balance between structured drills and real-world scenarios, so you’re not confined to “perfect” situations. For example, hitting the same three-foot putt over and over is good for repetition, but after a while, it becomes less interactive for your brain.
My approach is to use a putting trainer with a narrow gate for the ball to pass through, or simply place tees just outside the width of the ball. I’ll hit a series of four putts through the gate for three sets. Then, from a similar distance, I’ll hit four putts without the training aid and repeat that sequence three times.
Next, I’ll hit a number of 15–25 foot putts in a random fashion, then circle back to repeat the short putt drills with and without the training aid.
This breaks up the rhythm of hitting short putts with the training aid. When you hit the same short putts over and over, it’s easy to get into a groove—which is great for the drill, but not reflective of actual course play. While finding a rhythm is fundamental for drills, I like to introduce variation with longer putts to keep things realistic.
Game Mode
Once you’ve established a foundation with drills, it’s time to simulate on-course scenarios. This is where a few practice games come in handy.
One that I’ve been enjoying lately involves putting 10- to 15-footers with two balls. If I make the putt, great! If I miss, I pull the missed ball back a putter length. Suddenly, that little tap-in becomes a nerve-wracking three-footer—at least at first. As you get better at this game, those three- and five-footers become much more comfortable and routine.
It may sound cliché, but each shot is just what it is—it’s how we react that makes the difference. I like this game because it blends the pressure of on-course putting with the consequence of leaving yourself a much longer putt than usual.
Another game I like is one I recently learned from Brad Faxon. Place three tees in a line at four different locations around the hole: one at 3 feet, one at 6 feet, and one at 8 feet. The 3- and 6-foot putts count as par, and the 8-footer is for birdie.
This game keeps you focused on scoring and helps you get into a competitive mindset. You can even think about this putting game while you’re on the course. I just started playing it, and last week I couldn’t get better than two under par.
Competition
Competition during practice is when drills and games come to life, and you start to see results. For me, nothing beats a putting contest with a friend or two. In the right setting, these contests can become talking points for the whole season.
Match play, a game of 21, or simply seeing who can make the most one-putts (with a small prize on the line) are all great ways to simulate real on-course pressure. Recently, I played in a putting contest where one competitor made back-to-back 30- and 50-foot putts. As they say, expect your opponent to make every putt—and he nearly did. That’s impressive, and it’s something you see on the course, too: you have to stay committed to your game plan, no matter what.
When it comes to practice, it’s important to blend feedback from recent rounds with the fundamentals you want to reinforce. Drills, games, and competition—from the driving range to the putting green—form the backbone of skills you’ll rely on during actual rounds.
Finding the right balance is something we’re all working on, one practice session at a time. With the beginning of June on the horizon and courses rounding into peak condition for the season, it’s time to hone the finer skills that often get rusty over the winter. More sunlight also means more time to get out on the course and work on your game. Whether it’s the practice green or the driving range, there’s always something to improve—whether you’re enjoying the fresh air or preparing for a weekend game or tournament. You can work on drills or freestyle around the green, and friendly competition is a great way to sharpen your skills. While there are endless ways to get better at golf, I’m going to focus on practicing around the green. Let’s take a look at a few things to keep in mind as we head into the summer months.
Drills
From the driving range to the practice green, it’s important to incorporate drills into your routine. Years ago, I spent a weekend working on my short game with James Sieckmann. He recommended doing drill work for 5–10 minutes, then returning to your main practice. This way, you create a balance between structured drills and real-world scenarios, so you’re not confined to “perfect” situations. For example, hitting the same three-foot putt over and over is good for repetition, but after a while, it becomes less interactive for your brain.
My approach is to use a putting trainer with a narrow gate for the ball to pass through, or simply place tees just outside the width of the ball. I’ll hit a series of four putts through the gate for three sets. Then, from a similar distance, I’ll hit four putts without the training aid and repeat that sequence three times. Next, I’ll hit a number of 15–25 foot putts in a random fashion, then circle back to repeat the short putt drills with and without the training aid.
This breaks up the rhythm of hitting short putts with the training aid. When you hit the same short putts over and over, it’s easy to get into a groove—which is great for the drill, but not reflective of actual course play. While finding a rhythm is fundamental for drills, I like to introduce variation with longer putts to keep things realistic.
Game Mode
Once you’ve established a foundation with drills, it’s time to simulate on-course scenarios. This is where a few practice games come in handy. One that I’ve been enjoying lately involves putting 10- to 15-footers with two balls. If I make the putt, great! If I miss, I pull the missed ball back a putter length.
Suddenly, that little tap-in becomes a nerve-wracking three-footer—at least at first. As you get better at this game, those three- and five-footers become much more comfortable and routine. It may sound cliché, but each shot is just what it is—it’s how we react that makes the difference. I like this game because it blends the pressure of on-course putting with the consequence of leaving yourself a much longer putt than usual.
Another game I like is one I recently learned from Brad Faxon. Place three tees in a line at four different locations around the hole: one at 3 feet, one at 6 feet, and one at 8 feet. The 3- and 6-foot putts count as par, and the 8-footer is for birdie.
This game keeps you focused on scoring and helps you get into a competitive mindset. You can even think about this putting game while you’re on the course. I just started playing it, and last week I couldn’t get better than two under par.
Competition
Competition during practice is when drills and games come to life, and you start to see results. For me, nothing beats a putting contest with a friend or two. In the right setting, these contests can become talking points for the whole season. Match play, a game of 21, or simply seeing who can make the most one-putts (with a small prize on the line) are all great ways to simulate real on-course pressure. Recently, I played in a putting contest where one competitor made back-to-back 30- and 50-foot putts. As they say, expect your opponent to make every putt—and he nearly did. That’s impressive, and it’s something you see on the course, too: you have to stay committed to your game plan, no matter what.
When it comes to practice, it’s important to blend feedback from recent rounds with the fundamentals you want to reinforce. Drills, games, and competition—from the driving range to the putting green—form the backbone of skills you’ll rely on during actual rounds. Finding the right balance is something we’re all working on, one practice session at a time.
For Korean golfers, we always look forward to the last of the kkot-saem-chu-I for the true start of a new golf season. The term refers to a cold snap, but literally translates as “winter being jealous of the flowers beginning to bloom, thus lashing out one final time before surrendering to spring”.
A rather poetic mouthful packed into a short expression.
Koreans can be like that. Understated, yet oddly expressive at the same time. And nowhere is this more true on the golf course and in our golf bags. In fact, I suspect many Korean golfers look forward to new apparel and accessory drops more than they do actual equipment launches each year.
At this point, Korean golf fashion may exist on its own timeline. (courtesy of @seonbi_golfer)
There is ample evidence to support that suspicion. Korea is the world’s third-largest golf market behind the United States and Japan, yet its appetite for golf apparel exceeds that of both countries combined. Recent estimates suggest that Korea accounts for nearly 40 percent of the global golf apparel market, placing it among the world’s most influential golf fashion markets and punching well above its size.
Simply, we care deeply about how new golf clubs look and feel, but enjoy looking good while swinging them even more.
Golfers in the West may laugh and say that golf is played on a course, not a fashion runway. Perhaps. But what’s the harm in trying to look and feel good, if the added self-confidence can help actual performance? It certainly seems to have worked for Jason Day, who may have unlocked a new stats category: dormant strokes gained. Coincidence?
During the COVID-era, estimates placed the market near $9 billion, an astonishing figure for a single country.
As a proud member of Gen X, I’ve witnessed the highs and lows of golf fashion firsthand. The pleated trousers and wing-tipped shoes of Jack Nicklaus, the stylish plus-fours and knickers of Payne Stewart, the baggy black trousers and fitted mock-necks of Tiger Woods, and the thigh-hugging athletic tailoring of Rory McIlroy. Golf fashion, like the golf swing itself, has rarely stood still.
But nowhere have those trends shifted, evolved, and been scrutinized quite as relentlessly as in Korea. Here, golf fashion moves faster than fairway gossip, and consumers dissect brands with a level of discernment that can be both impressive and mildly terrifying. New brands are studied, judged, embraced, or dismissed with startling efficiency.
The result is a consumer base with one of the sharpest eyes for quality and authenticity anywhere in the world. It is difficult to quantify, but easy to recognize. Clean lines without trying too hard. Luxury mixed with utility. Trend awareness balanced by restraint and purpose.
It’s golf fashion shaped by one of the world’s most style-literate cities, something I like to call Seoul Sensibilities, referring to the taste level forged by a uniquely competitive environment.
And increasingly, global brands have noticed.
Many golf brands in Korea have their own flagship shops dedicated to apparel only
Titleist understood this years ago, when its apparel business in Korea took on a life of its own under new ownership and local direction. What had once been a straightforward extension of an iconic equipment giant became something sharper and more premium. By going all in on the serious Tour-player look (I couldn’t even fit into their XL sizes), Titleist struck the right chord with Korean consumers and helped its fledgling apparel business break into the mainstream. Titleist became a household name even for non-golfers who wore its caps, shirts, and windbreakers in daily life. In many ways, it proved that even heritage golf brands could carry real fashion credibility when viewed through a Korean lens.
Several years later, PXG took a page out of Titleist’s playbook and followed suit. Korean consumers helped transform the brand from one known largely for irons and loud commercials into something broader and more stylish. PXG apparel’s growth in Korea was explosive, where it found an early audience and turned the category into something more than mere logo merchandise. It is still hard to walk anywhere in Seoul without seeing its palindrome logo.
Malbon’s meteoric rise in the United States was genuine, but its ascent into a global golf lifestyle brand owes much to Korea, where it was elevated by a market already fluent in modern golf style. Korea did not simply embrace Malbon. It pressure-tested the concept, refined its appeal, and helped push it into the global spotlight.
As such, new brands may arrive from abroad, but more often than not, their sharpest evolution happens here. If a brand can earn credibility in Seoul, it’s deemed to have passed one of the toughest style audits in the game.
That is why the next meaningful chapter may not come from outside, but from a Korean brand moving in the opposite direction, carrying those Seoul Sensibilities outward as K-pop once did.
Play young Stay dope.
From Seoul, With Intent
Khalhon is a label that feels less like a trend-chasing newcomer and more like the product of a market that has already seen everything. Golfers here have long been surrounded by luxury logos, technical fabrics, and tour uniforms disguised as lifestyle wear and vice-versa. In other words, novelty alone rarely lasts here, and the Koreans seems to understand that instinctively.
Its style language leans into clean silhouettes, relaxed but tailored proportions, muted palettes, and premium materials that speak quietly but confidently. There is a modern city aesthetic running through it all, with strong layering pieces, thoughtful textures, and subtle branding that suggests sophistication rather than demanding attention.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
Most importantly, the garments seem designed to blur the line between golfwear and everyday style. Shirts, trousers, knitwear, and outer layers move comfortably between a game of screen golf, a lunch reservation, an airport gate, or an afternoon coffee in Gangnam with friends.
It raises the question of whether this is golfwear that happens to look good off the course, or everyday clothing that performs beautifully on the fairways.
Personally, I have long appreciated Nike Golf for its clean, athletic modernization of golf attire. It also has the useful side effect of making me look like a more serious golfer than I probably am. But off the course, there are times when being instantly identified as the golf guy in a crowd of non-golfers can feel a touch self-conscious.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
That is part of what drew me to Khalhon, which seemed to blend golf and everyday wear naturally. While some of the outfits may be slightly beyond my personal confidence level, the brand also offers tasteful options for older guys like me who still want to express a little personality without regretting the decision later.
These are not simply flashy outfits worn on the course and then banished to the closet until the next tee time. They work surprisingly well off the course too, and I suspect many of the pieces will still look right a couple of years from now, which would certainly be kinder to my wallet than most golf fashion trends tend to be.
And perhaps that broader lifestyle positioning also helps explain why someone like Sean Wotherspoon would find Khalhon creatively interesting in the first place.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
“Korea is not only one of the most fashion-forward golf markets in the world, but one of the most fashion-forward markets globally. Korea is ahead, and I love to watch and try to catch up.” – Sean Wotherspoon, Creative Director at Khalhon
Seoul and Beyond
If Khalhon’s rise says something about where Korean golf fashion is today, its relationship with Sean Wotherspoon says even more about where it is heading.
For readers less familiar with Sean Wotherspoon, his arrival at Khalhon is not some routine celebrity endorsement or influencer collaboration. In design and streetwear circles, Wotherspoon is regarded as one of the more influential creative voices of his generation, particularly when it comes to blending nostalgia, storytelling, and contemporary culture into products that people can connect with.
He first gained widespread attention through his now-famous Nike sneaker collaborations, where his vintage-inspired designs and instinct for color helped turn him into one of the defining artists of the late-2010s sneaker era. His work gradually expanded beyond footwear into apparel, automotive collaborations, collectibles, and broader lifestyle design.
Modern golf style now extends well beyond the fairways, where performance and functionality are largely expected by default. And while plenty of brands already make technically competent golfwear, Khalhon seems more focused on designing clothes people would genuinely want to wear even after the round ends.
And when guys at Wotherspoon’s level show genuine interest in working with a Korean golf brand as its new Creative Director, fashion circles tend to sit up and pay attention. There’s already a huge buzz among the fashion-conscious here about upcoming collabs with iconic sports stars and brands.
“My creative direction for Khalhon is disruptive, colorful, nostalgic, and modern. My goal is to blend these avenues seamlessly within each collection.” – Sean Wotherspoon
In chatting with Sean, what stood out most to me was how genuinely energized he sounded about the project itself. Despite having already worked across and countless other creative spaces, he described golf as a completely fresh category for him, saying that Khalhon “will be an amazing vehicle for my design work.”
At the same time, his enthusiasm seemed tied just as much to Korea itself. He spoke openly about admiring Korea’s fashion culture while repeatedly insisting he is still a terrible golfer.
There was something oddly refreshing about that humility. Rather than sounding like a celebrity parachuting into golf simply because the category suddenly became fashionable, Sean sounded genuinely curious about what Korea might do with the category next.
And perhaps that is what makes Khalhon feel interesting right now. The brand feels less like a trend-chaser and more like the natural result of a market now confident enough to export its own point of view.
For years, global brands came to Korea to sharpen their image against one of the most discerning audiences anywhere. Now, a Korean label appears ready to send those Seoul Sensibilities outward instead.
Which brings us back to kkot-saem-chu-i.
That final cold snap before spring always arrives with a reminder that seasons are changing, whether we notice it immediately or not. Golf fashion feels a little like that right now as well, as the old boundaries between sport, streetwear, luxury, and everyday style continue to soften.
And somewhere in Seoul, a Korean golf label already seems prepared for whatever season comes next. I just hope they have everything in my size.
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talljohn777
Aug 28, 2014 at 2:54 am
I understand Bagger Vance may be available…
Tin Whistle
Aug 27, 2014 at 11:06 pm
Slicefixer already fixed Tiger’s swing in Encyclopedia Texarkana (p 48-49)…
Tiger, call Geoff…
Geoff, if Tiger calls can I get a free lesson?
dwntnbrown
Aug 27, 2014 at 7:29 pm
who gives a flying f— about tiggggger woods
Prototype
Aug 27, 2014 at 4:28 pm
Tiger needs to call Monty Scheinblum ASAP. He can fix Tiger’s swing in very little time
Richard Grime
Aug 28, 2014 at 3:33 pm
I’ll second that!
Monte would have him being able to drive the ball well!
Jack Nash
Aug 27, 2014 at 2:16 pm
Bravo, Kevin! Well said.
Tom
Aug 27, 2014 at 2:04 pm
it’s about $$. butch (anyone) can be bought. if tiger wants butch, tiger will get butch. therefore, this article is bunk.
ALAN JARRARD
Aug 27, 2014 at 2:22 pm
TIGER IS IN MAJOR NEED OF MAJOR HELP TO WIN ANOTHER MAJOR, BUT HARMON WHO IN MY HUMBLE OPINION IS SIMPLY THE BEST HAS NO NEED FOR TIGER IF TIGER NEVER WINS AGAIN BUTCH STILL HAS THE BEST RECORD EVER WITH TIGER , NORMAN ETC.
SO IF TIGER GETS BUTCH BACK ON BOARD WOULD REQUIRE SOME MAJOR HUMBLE PIE NOT A TIGER MEAL EVER , BUT TIGER WANTS 18 MAJORS , ONLY CHANCE IS VIA BUTCH QUICKLY AS IN SANTA BUTCH UNDER TIGERS TREE. OR TIGER MAY NEVER WIN ZIP AGAIN AND MIGHT NOT PLAY MUCH EITHER TO MANY CRUNCHES TOOK THEIR TOLL BEING BUFF BALL IN THE ROUGH.
Lee
Aug 27, 2014 at 3:02 pm
Agreed all about the $$$$$, that’s why they parted in the first place and the main reason they won’t be a partnership again.
Rumble
Aug 27, 2014 at 10:30 am
I don’t buy the aging argument. Sports medicine and the “science” of the swing and bio-mechanics have come a long way since the reign of Nicklaus. Nicklaus won 6 majors after turning 35, including two when he was 40. Tiger is also only one major behind Nicklaus for their comparable ages. They both had very similar plateaus as well.
Other publishers on this website have discussed in detail with video evidence of some things under Foley that are not “technically sound”, such as releasing the driver to late by attempting to manipulate the handle.
All of this together, including the ego, will probably mean the end of 12 shot victories in the majors; however, if Tiger gets back to basics and feel in his golf swing the talent is still there, making him a real threat to pull off a few more victories by age 46. Which is 8 years from now, and coincides with Nicklaus’ last major victory.
Sam Adams
Aug 27, 2014 at 9:43 am
Great article! I agree that Tiger needs to do it himself. He’s always felt he knew more than his coaches.
Joe Golfer
Aug 27, 2014 at 1:52 am
Good article.
I agree that it will never happen. Two large egos that wouldn’t get along with each other, especially with their past history.
One thing that Harmon did very well was to get Tiger to use a wider stance. With that stance, he wasn’t playing his ball position on his drives off of his front toe, as he sometimes is now. He didn’t have to try to catch up with his hands, either having a late release that led to a push or a forced quick release that produced a hook, which seems to be rather common in his current game.
See this other GolfWRX article for confirmation of same:
http://www.golfwrx.com/239665/clark-tigers-excessive-shaft-lean-is-holding-him-back/
Joe 2
Aug 28, 2014 at 8:19 pm
Indeed! Ball position and stance width!
Pingback: Why a Tiger-Butch Reunion Won’t Happen | Spacetimeandi.com
Ryan
Aug 26, 2014 at 10:01 pm
All speculation…
Toots
Aug 26, 2014 at 8:54 pm
I think Tiger made the decision long before dropping Foley. I don’t take him as a guy that would fire his coach then decide what is next sort of guy. If I am wrong it is only because he is going to try and go at it on his own and then make a call if need be. I would love to see Harmon come back and while I agree that Phil would have a problem with it we are assuming he and Phil get along well…which we don’t really know.
moses
Aug 26, 2014 at 7:35 pm
I really like what Butch has done with Ricky. 🙂
If you look at Butch Harmon’s past history he has a habit of producing winners. On the surface it would seem to appear Tiger thought it was all him. I would guesstimate it wa 70 30. But that 30 was ALOT.
Martin
Aug 26, 2014 at 5:39 pm
I can’t help but feel a big “Who Cares” is in order here.
Dustin
Aug 26, 2014 at 8:21 pm
You care so little that you felt the need to comment? That makes sense…
Martin
Aug 26, 2014 at 8:44 pm
It was sort of a derisive comment about the lead story being on why Butch and Tiger won’t pair up, must be a slow week.
Wait a minute, the second leg of the Fedex cup is on, the Ryder Cup picks are coming shortly, Can Rory win again this week, Mahan comes back from a long Paternity Leave, Furyk lets another one go, Kuch’s back is OK for the Ryder Cup…never mind.
Maybe Tiger should go back to the driving range he first hit balls on with Earl and the magic will happen again.
Jeremy
Aug 26, 2014 at 11:18 pm
See, now that’s a proper comment 😉
And, honestly, I sort of care. I wasn’t playing golf when that era was taking place, and now that I’m so into it I hang out on golf blogs I’ve been curious what all the tension is about between those two.
Rich
Aug 27, 2014 at 3:52 am
Couldn’t agree more. There must have been something more interesting to write about. No story worth telling after the Barclays? Of course not. Let’s write a story about a guy THAT ISN’T EVEN PLAYING IN THE PLAYOFFS! TigerWRX strikes again.
Knobbywood
Aug 27, 2014 at 10:54 am
Tiger = views = ad $ …. Its not that complicated… All these who cares and another tiger article comments… Save it people… Nobody cares that you don’t care… Get used to it
Rich
Aug 27, 2014 at 5:48 pm
Knobbywood,
I wouldn’t care if there we’re complete coverage of what’s going on but to cover Tiger to the exclusion of other events in the golfing world to me is ridiculous. Tiger might = bums on seats so to speak but what’s wrong with covering the other important news. Tiger’s not going to be around forever.
Big Tony
Aug 26, 2014 at 4:54 pm
don’t sleep on mike adams @medalist gc, being ‘the one’ to get tiger back to thinking about ball flight, and away from thinking about trackman numbers. mike is prob the best man for the job at this point for a couple reasons, (1) access, he works at tiger’s club, (2) he doesn’t care for the limelight, (3) there’s no disputing he knows his onions when it comes to the swing.
Jimmy
Aug 26, 2014 at 4:49 pm
Maybe that clown Brandel Chamblee will quit the golf channel and be his coach he seems to think he knows all about fixing tigers swing
TW
Aug 26, 2014 at 6:54 pm
Do you need a moment to gather yourself? Its not like brandel doesn’t have some good points
Dpavs
Aug 26, 2014 at 4:09 pm
Just a few points;
1. It’s a misleading statement (not even true really) that Tiger drove the ball better in 2013 and 2012 than he had since the early 2000’s. His driving has been historically erratic from year to year but there is no real parallel you can draw here. This statement also ignores the fact that in 2009 tiger had a Driving Accuracy Percentage 64.29% and a Driving Distance of 298.4. Which is better than either 2013 or 2014.
2. I agree that it ain’t gonna happen… for most of the reasons stated and also because Phil would be an absolute lunatic if he did not boycott such a proposition. I don’t think Harmon would want to risk that long standing and amicable relationship.
3. It’s ridiculous to defend Foley’s work with Tiger (if it even needs defending) based on his getting a more aged Tiger as a student. That’s just non-sense. He essentially got the same player Haney did. Woods won eight majors under Harmon’s tutelage and six with Haney and he won absolutely zippo, nada, nil majors under Foley.
4. You forgot to mention that Tiger is a head case. He’s had some of the best coaches money can buy and they have all had reasonable success working with him… most of the reasons for the partings prior to Foley have not been for lack of success… he’s just plain and simple a head case.. why else would you leave coaches who helped you to some of the most successful years in your career. The only coach this does not hold true for is Foley.. so if there are grounds for him to have ever left anyone based on his performance.. it would be his leaving Foley.
5. Haney was right when he said Tiger is probably better off alone at this point. Why? See #4 above. This quote from Haney says it all.. “He certainly knows enough,” Haney said Tuesday on “Morning Drive”. “I think he’d probably be better off just going and doing it himself. He’s the one that he’ll listen to the most. He’s the one that he’s always listened to the most.”
6. Harmon or anybody who is well established would need to be suicidal to take Tiger on now. If he goes with anyone I could foresee him going to some up and comer who is still making a name for himself.. someone with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Kevin Casey
Aug 26, 2014 at 10:43 pm
Love the thorough response. Always great to see that.
To go point by point:
1. There is a bit of conjecture here, as more of the advanced stats only go back to 2008. But if you went off of driving distance and accuracy alone, 2012 and 2013 are some of his best. Yes, he had a higher driving accuracy percentage in 2009, but the percentage isn’t important, his ranking compared to the rest of the Tour is. And the ranking in 2009 here is 86th, whereas he was 69th and 55th in 2013 and 2012, respectively. And when it comes to distance, I don’t think the general “driving distance” stat is the best. That only counts one drive per nine holes, with each drive being on a hole where driver is the extreme likely tee club of choice. The stat tries to identify who hits it farthest with the driver. What that doesn’t account for is that some players are aggressive and others are conservative off the tee. Maybe “driving distance” tells us a guy hits the big dog 310 on average, but if he’s pulling out a 3-wood or an iron on basically every tee, that 310 average means very little. It’s only telling us what his potential is if he hit a Tour average number of drivers per round. If he’s hitting a lot more three-woods and irons than the average Tour player, his real distance per tee shot is a lot less.
That’s why I like “Driving Distance- All Drives.” As it implies, the stat measures all drives a player makes in a year (or at least every one that is measured by a laser). In this way, we see how much distance a player really gets on their drives, based on their combination of power and tee box strategy. Using this metric, we find that Woods in 2012 and 2009 had virtually the same average distance on his drive (he placed somewhere ranked in the 30s). He’s actually most hurt in 2013, where his extreme conservative strategy knocks him down to 95th.
Based on this, I think tweaking my statement to “some of his best driving since the early 2000s” is appropriate. Because he was a better driver in 2009 than 2013 based on these stats, but the best of those three years from the tee box was 2012.
Even if 2013 is worse than 2009, I still think it’s better than basically any other year since the early 2000s. His distance was significantly down from the mid-2000s, but his accuracy was way better. And while he still suffered from “The Big Miss” (155th in distance from edge of fairway in 2013), my assumption is that he would finish basically dead last in that category (190s or worse) if it measured the 2004-2007 years. That’s again conjecture, but based on the fact that his off the planet misses at that time were the stuff of legend. (For the record, his Distance From Edge of Fairway numbers from 2009, 2012 and 2013 are 135th, 147th and 155th. Which doesn’t change anything when it comes to ranking those three seasons in driving.)
So, I agree that the statement could use a bit of tweaking, but I don’t think it’s even close to entirely false based on the (admittedly limited) data we have.
2. Not much else to say here. Phil’s reaction would be interesting. I don’t know that Phil is a lunatic if he lets Butch and Tiger re-unite. If Phil really believes that Harmon helps him out a lot, it’s not worth potentially straining their relationship or ending it altogether based on Butch’s affinity for Tiger.
3. I think you can absolutely defend his work with Foley. It wasn’t the greatest player-coach partnership in history, but it was quite fruitful. I stand by the fact that he absolutely had a different Tiger than previous coaches. Aging is a real thing and a hindrance to a player’s game. This wasn’t going to affect Tiger under Butch or Haney because he was in his 20s or early 30s. But under Foley, he was reaching his later 30s, when golfers tend to start losing their skills a bit. Injuries also take their toll. Harmon had very little to deal with there, as did Haney for much of his tenure. But Tiger couldn’t stop getting injured at the beginning of his dalliance with Foley and he remains prone to them. And you could easily argue that Tiger has a weakened mental game since his November 2009 adventure. Add all of that up and you have a weakened Tiger in the Foley-era regardless of the instructor’s influence. And let’s also not forget that Haney was really last Tiger’s coach in 2009 (I know they split in 2010, but it was very early on in Woods’ season), and Foley didn’t really get to work with a weakened, but fully operational Tiger until 2012. So there’s a gap in time there as well.
And if you still don’t believe me, just look at Tiger’s club head speed. It was around 125 at his peak, good for tops (or 2nd or 3rd) on Tour. By 2012-2013, that speed dropped around 120, which is barely top-10 on Tour. That may not sound like a huge difference, but it is for a guy who used power as a key weapon to dominate for so long. That’s what happens as you age, you aren’t able to get the same club head speed, it has nothing to do with the swing Foley helped employ.
So I really don’t see how Foley’s version of Tiger wasn’t already diminished. When you realize that, you see that eight PGA Tour wins in the two years we have useful data is pretty good stuff. Woods averaged about 6 wins and a major per year in his peak, but he’s no longer that guy regardless of who teaches him. Four per year with plenty at high profile events (in his post-prime state) is a solid record, if still something that can be improved on.
4. He definitely has an interesting way of going about swing instructors. Very unusual in the history of golf. But Woods actually left Haney (or Haney “resigned”) at a very similar point to Foley’s. He left Haney after a very successful 2009 (and 2008, 2007, etc.), but did so due to extenuating circumstances (adultery) interrupting his golf game in 2010. Woods canned Foley after a very successful 2013 (and 2012), but did so due to extenuating circumstances in 2014 (i.e. he missed a good portion of the year, and played significantly injured in most events he participated in). So I don’t agree that he left Foley for performance. You can’t count 2014 because of all of the injuries wrecking havoc. That means the last true performance we can look to is 2013, and the partnership was thriving then.
5. He could be better off alone, he could not. Who knows at this point, Tiger is such an enigma that it’s impossible to figure out.
6. There isn’t a ton of upside here for a renowned teacher, I definitely agree. I think there would still be a few who took the bait though if Tiger asked. But, really early in the process here, so again, who knows.
Dave
Aug 26, 2014 at 11:07 pm
For most of your counterpoints I can see both sides of the argument, I just find myself on the other side this time 🙂
Just one additional comment thought about his swing speed under Foley.. obviously his injuries have always had an effect on his play but I think the diminishing swing speed you see by years 2012 and 2013 are more a by-product of his quieting his lower body… certainly you can argue that this was perhaps something that was encouraged by his wanting to avoid re-aggravating his back… but I’m not sure that even absent the back injury Foley would not have worked with Tiger to quiet that lower body a bit more than he had in the past in an effort to get back to the higher levels of consistency he enjoyed in his best years.
Thanks Kevin, nice job on all this!
Desmond
Aug 26, 2014 at 4:09 pm
It’s been real for at least 10 years that Butch and Tiger wouldn’t be kissing under a tree. But at least the hope was a positive one with a hopeful tone. That’s more than you can say about a lot of discussion on the internet.
Dalt
Aug 26, 2014 at 4:06 pm
Because Butch was getting so much credit for Tiger’s game, he was dropped in favor of Hank. Tiger did the same thing to Fluff because he made a commercial w/o Tiger’s knowledge or approval. He dropped Stevie because Stevie caddied for Scott while Tiger was laid up. These events transpired because of Tiger’s ego. It’s all about Tiger. With hindsight being the ol’ infamous 20/20, Tiger’s ego has cost him that which he cherished most, Nicklaus’record. Tiger, wake up, you ain’t gonna catch Jack. It’s over.
Chris
Aug 26, 2014 at 8:44 pm
Tiger dropped Harmon in part because he wasn’t returning Tiger’s calls. For a $million or so a year, you’d think he could call him back. That may not be the only reason but it was part of it. Same thing happened with Harmon and Norman, too.
Jake
Jun 27, 2023 at 1:31 pm
There was no million dollars a year. Butch wrote in his book that he had a ten year contract with Tiger and he was paid $50,000 a year and Tiger never paid him a penny over that.
Ben
Aug 26, 2014 at 3:54 pm
All about egos and attitude. Pretty sad. Why? The same reason everyone is screaming for them to get back together… Tiger was playing his best golf when he was with Butch.
Dalt
Aug 26, 2014 at 4:10 pm
When he was with Harmon, he was unbeatable. Winning majors by 12 shots. Shooting unheard of scores at the U.S. Open. He blew it and now he can just dream about what might have been if he had swallowed his pride and stayed with Butch.
Bryan
Aug 26, 2014 at 3:41 pm
It won’t happen because Butch has been on record saying it will never happen…he reiterated yesterday that he won’t, and Tiger “won’t call”.
There’s your article…
Jack A.
Aug 26, 2014 at 3:33 pm
Well . .. someone had to bring us back to reality.
snakesnot
Aug 26, 2014 at 3:15 pm
probably won’t happen…but it would be for the best.
Michael Howes
Aug 26, 2014 at 3:10 pm
I enjoyed the read Kevin
Gary hacker
Aug 26, 2014 at 2:59 pm
Agreed. Never happening. Great article