Why does ANYONE ever let go of legendary swing coach Butch Harmon?
Is he a colossal dick otherwise?
Tiger Woods employed Butch Harmon from before he was a pro through 2004.
Then Tiger decided to overhaul his swing with Hank Haney.
It’s literally one of the greatest “what if?”
scenarios in sports history.
What if Tiger never left Butch?
OK back to the subject at hand.
Enter John Tillery, who must have a decent client list.
We’re talking about a guy who finished top-five in every single 2014 major championship.
By all accounts, no hard feelings between the guys…but Rickie was in dire straits.
I don’t know what to do."
“Some guys have got to hit rock bottom.
Rickie went beyond rock bottom.
It pained me to watch him.
I love him as a friend.
And, as I watched him struggle, I was wishing hed pick up the phone and call me.
[…] He was so lost.
He had no idea what he was doing.
[…] I have mental talks with him all the time.
I am a really positive person.
He’s come from a dark place in golf and I’m not going to take him back there.
“[…] The tip-off is he’s got that little step back.
it’s possible for you to see he’s happy again.
He’s in a good place mentally.
you’re able to see that energy in his body that he’d lost when he was struggling.
He’s going to win.
The game needs him to win.”
Check out Rickie’s past 12 starts.
Only one missed cut after MCing eight times in each of the last three calendar years.
Rickie explained how he’ll meet with Butch in Florida on occasion in person.
Whatever it is, whatever secret or dark magic Butch Harmon is capable of channeling, it’s working.
When I was studying abroad in 2011 I got to see Rickie in action at The Open Championship.
It was literally the most brutal conditions you could imagine.
Raining cats and dogs.
My umbrella SNAPPED and broke.
I’ve seldom been more impressed by a golf round from anyone in my entire life.
To get in the clubhouse in red figures amidthoseconditions??
Get the fuck outta here.
For me, any such nonsense was eradicated that day.
Rickie forever earned my respect.
I wouldnt be in this position had I not gone through the last few years.
Im looking forward to the weekend.
It’s been a while since Ive felt this good in a tournament, let alone a major.
Its going to be a challenge, but I’m definitely looking forward to it.”
Another stat that bodes well for Rickie’s chances this weekend:
I agree with Butch.
Golf needs a Rickie redemption arc at a major championship.
I’m glad Butch was the man Rickie turned to after a few years bumbling around in the dark.
Can’t wait to see how it all goes down on U.S. Open Sunday.
