Butch Harmon: The Master of Macau

You said he’s probably going to have to change his swing as a result of the injury. What do you think he’ll have to do?

I’m of the opinion he’s going to have to change it a little – especially that snap into the left knee. He might have to go to an old school swing where the knees drive a little bit. Having said that, knowing Tiger how he is, he’s going to do whatever it takes to get back. We want him back better than ever, because golf sure is exciting when he’s playing.

You worked with John Daly for a while last season, but it didn’t work out. He played great in the final round of the Hong Kong Open but then got into a bit of trouble down in Australia [Daly missed three cuts and smashed a fan’s camera]. Where does he go from here?

[Sighs] John is a wonderful young man that has a lot of troubles – and unless he addresses his problems and tries to do something about it, we’re going to continue to read the wrong things about John Daly. He’s a tremendous talent. I think he can still play very well, but he’s got to take care of his personal life. He doesn’t do anything in moderation, be it his drinking, his smoking, his gambling, his eating – he needs to learn how to control his life where he can really focus and not let outside things dictate his golf. He still has the ability and he’s a really nice guy – we all love John. But John’s got to take care of John a lot better.

Can he win again?

He has to want to. At the present time I don’t think he feels he has a problem in any area, and that’s sad, really. I tried to help him with tough love. I told him I’d be happy to help him but he had to show me he was going to get his life together. I was quite stringent with him, on what was acceptable and what wasn’t. I wanted him to conduct himself as a professional – his appearance, the way he handles himself at tournaments. I told him that on his own time I don’t care what he does, but at events he has to conduct himself as a pro. But John had a hard time doing that. Now that’s the reason why the average guy loves him – he’s been divorced numerous times, had bouts with alcohol and gambling. The average person, I think, sees John Daly as himself. John could be so much better and reach more people if he could get his own life in order. But until he can do that, it’s not going to be pretty.

Which player would you most like to work with that you haven’t done so already?

[Chuckles] Before it was Ernie [Els] but now I have that. I always thought I could help Goosen with a couple of things in his swing. I don’t seek clients. People I work with come to me.

Could you help Monty?

Monty – his is more of a mental problem, not a physical problem. He gets in his own way mentally. His talent in unbelievable. He’s the greatest player to have never won a major, no question. That debacle at Winged Foot [2006 US Open] where Mickelson screwed up – Monty screwed up worse, quite honestly. Right side of the fairway, 7-iron in hand, pin on the right – as a fader he couldn’t get a better scenario to win his first major. He just didn’t handle it. I’ll tell you a story about Monty. I was commentating for Sky Sports at the US Open at Pinehurst a while back and Monty was playing the 14th hole. He was in the middle of the fairway with probably a 5-iron to go and he was throwing his hands up in the air and getting frustrated because some people were moving in the grandstand behind the green. That’s 200 yards away! So I said, ‘This is the difference between him and other great players. Colin Montgomerie is seeing everyone in the stand move; David Duval doesn’t see anyone in the stand; and Tiger Woods doesn’t even know the stand is there, because he’s so focused.’ Monty can’t tone out anything. It’s like you have to stop airplanes and birds flying. He has gotten in his own way. Having said that, he is truly one of the best players in the history of European golf; his Ryder Cup record is wonderful; the number of Order of Merit’s he’s won. He needs mental help. He’s got a unique swing but hits the ball beautifully – you wouldn’t want to change anything there. But I’d sure like to get inside his head and shake it a little and when the dice came out see good numbers.

Faldo?

I’m a great Faldo fan. I think he’s one of the greatest players of all time. Six majors! He’s in his own world, which we saw at the Ryder Cup. He won’t go down as one of the better Ryder Cup captains. He does things his way. He never made a lot of friends on tour, which makes it difficult to be a captain, but he did it his way which is how he got to be who he is – and that’s why I admire him tremendously. When he changed his swing many years ago with David Leadbetter he went to a really modern swing, which I really liked. I have a lot of admiration for him. As a commentator he’s very knowledgeable but I think he tries to be too funny – and his personality isn’t to be funny. But six majors! C’mon! And you know what, he’ll never get credit for ’96 at the Masters because everyone will talk about Norman giving up the lead. But if Nick Faldo doesn’t shoot 67, then it doesn’t matter what Norman does.                                                                               

You were Norman’s coach at the time…

[Laughs] You bet I was. It was the longest day I’ve ever had on a golf course in my life. But that’s another story for another time...