Scottie Scheffler was fed up with his poor putting performance in August at the Tour Championship.
He sought out help. First, he sent a text to one of the top putting coaches in golf, Englishman Phil Kenyon. The next day, he called him. They began working on his putting problems in Dallas a few days after that.
“He basically told me that I was a slob, and he couldn’t imagine I had ever won a golf tournament because of the way I putted. Scheffler made a joke about their first meeting. “No, but on a more serious note, I knew what I was doing incorrectly. My suspicions were confirmed. It was only that I tried to fix it the wrong way. It would take some time to get into all the details, but it is really quite simple.
Scottie, we’re not in a hurry. Please continue. “The way that I moved the putter, I was fighting the toe of the putter rising as I went through. And so, sometimes I would miss contact in the heel,” explained he. “To keep my putter’s head low, I would feel my hands and lower my arms. When I lowered my arms, the toe of the putting stick went higher. As the year progressed, I found that my hands were getting lower and lower. The problem was getting worse. It was something that I could not figure out and was stopping me from making as many putts as I should. As I mentioned, I hit a lot good putts this year. “Now I feel more consistent when I hit my starting line, particularly during practice.”
Scheffler was able to win the WM Phoenix Open and Players Championship in February, and he had a remarkable run of consistency throughout the season. This allowed him to lead the FedEx Cup going into the Tour Championships for the second consecutive year. A shaky putter was the only thing that held him back. He was ranked 151 st for Strokes gained: Putting. Scheffler never worked with anyone but Randy Smith, his longtime coach on any aspect of the game.
“I called Randy.” Scheffler recalled that I told him: “Hey, you know, I was thinking of calling Phil. I know him and I think it’s an excellent idea. Let’s go for it.”
Scheffler says he feels more confident with the ball after only making minor adjustments.
“Even something as simple and easy as aligning the ball was something I did and didn’t do at times, and I wasn’t using the line the right way. “Phil gave me an entirely different perspective about how to use the line, which has been very helpful,” said he. It’s little things like this. I don’t feel like I’ve changed much. I’ve just gotten my mind in the right place. I feel that we have made small changes so I am more comfortable with the ball, and I no longer need to think about my swing. “That’s all there is.”
Can Scheffler’s relationship with a native English coach influence who wins the 44 Ryder Cup?
Scheffler said, “When he was in Dallas, I made jokes with him.” I told him that his equipment would work so well, he wouldn’t be welcomed back to his club after the Ryder Cup.
