Hire the same coach if you can’t beat them.
This is the logic Kramer Hickok used last fall to make a move to join swing coach Mark Blackburn. Blackburn has had success with players such as Max Homa and Chez Reavie, Kevin Chappells, Charley Hoffman, J.J. Spaun, and Sean O’Hair. Harris English and, most recently, Justin Rose.
This was not a quick fix. Blackburn didn’t help the former University of Texas star, despite occasional flashes of brilliance like an eight-hole playoff loss against Harris English at 2021 Travelers Champion. These bad habits weren’t easy to overcome.
Hickok missed eight consecutive cuts and finally stayed for the Genesis Invitational in February. He used a pair of 69s during the first two rounds to earn a top-30 finish.
After posting a remarkable 66 on Saturday, he did even better at Honda Classic, finishing T-14. He made his third consecutive cut, even though he wasn’t in contention at the Players Championship last week.
Hickok has high hopes for this week’s Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort. He was leading the pack after Friday’s action at Palm Harbor’s Valspar Championship.
It’s a gradual process. “I switched coaches in the fall, and I’m making swing changes. So when I get into tournaments, it kind of reverts to my bad habits,” Hickok stated about working with Blackburn. So I can do it really well at the range, but things kind of go back to my old patterns when I get on the course. It’s a matter of trusting your feelings and not trying to exaggerate the feelings to get where you want to go.
It’s a learning process. Every week it becomes more familiar. It’s definitely better than last week, and it’s even better than the week before. It’s only the beginning.
Hickok made some mistakes on Friday, including two chips that resulted in bogeys at Nos. 2 and 16. Hickok is now 6 under after the first two rounds and just one shot behind Adam Schenk, who was still in the lead after the early players had left the course. Hickok is also home to Cody Gribble and Jordan Spieth, who were his teammates on the University of Texas’ NCAA Championship team 2012.
Hickok doesn’t think about college reunions and celebration speeches for the moment. Hickok is trying to be simple and let his passion make a difference.
“I have been putting really well. I’m just seeing the lines and hitting some great putts. He said that although I don’t feel like I’m playing very well from tee-to-green, just keeping the ball in front and scoring well is what makes me feel good. This is why I love this course so much. It suits my game. It doesn’t take a lot of power to hit the ball. Just fling it around and hit it straight.
“I like how I am sitting right now. But, I need to swing some more and get back to how it felt back Wednesday and Tuesday.”
This means that you must work with the system Blackburn has established. What was it that attracted Hickok to his new coach?
“His men were really good. Max Homa is playing well. Chez Reavie seems win every year. Trey Mullinax won the last year. Hickok stated that Justin Rose won the year last year and he has Justin Mullinax. “So I tried to follow the hothand and he has really helped me, so I’m really excited for our future together.”
