Sean Foley, a swing instructor from Dublin, Ohio, says that the relationship between PGA Tour professionals and their coaches can be measured by dog years.
When Tour pros are in a slump, they tend to blame their caddie or coach.
Foley joked, “You can’t replace your wife.”
Billy Horschel, the defending Muirfield Village Golf Club champion returns this week. However, his game has deteriorated since he won his seventh PGA Tour title at the Memorial in June last year. Horschel did not sugarcoat his performance when asked about it during a Wednesday pre-tournament media conference.
Horschel said, “The season has been pretty bad. Pretty abysmal to be honest.” Horschel entered the week ranked No. The FedEx Cup Playoffs are only open to the top 70 players in the standings. Horschel, who entered the week No.
Billy Horschel and his caddie Micah Fugitt walk the ninth fairway during a practice session ahead of the Memorial Tournament 2023 at Muirfield Village Golf Club. (Photo: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Todd Anderson, Horschel’s longtime coach and who coached him for his first U.S. Presidents Cup last fall, was forced to rethink the plan. The two are approaching 15 years working together. That’s a lot of years.
Horschel, who had been a student at the University of Florida for two years, was about to graduate in the fall of 2008. Coach Buddy Alexander, his coach, had turned him into a talented All-American. Alexander knew Horschel needed someone to take care of him full-time once he turned professional. Alexander recommended that Horschel visit three possible coaches.
Anderson stated that “I was the only one he saw, and he did not go to the other two. We’ve worked together ever since.”
Horschel, in addition to winning the Memorial Championship last year, has also won a World Golf Championship (2014), a Tour Championship (2014) and FedEx Cup, as well as the BMW Championship, which is the flagship event for the DP World Tour. Horschel expects a lot from himself and his team. He and Anderson, whom he considers a friend and mentor, developed a relationship based on trust and confidence.
Anderson stated, “He treats me like a member of his family.” “He will pick you up wherever it is on your way to the course.” He’ll come and pick me up if I tell him I need to take a shuttle.
“If he rents a home for a major, I will always have a place there if I need it.” We’ll fly together to the British Open. I’ll be flying first class. I’ve worked for a lot of Tour players, but not all are like this. Most of them, in fact, aren’t.
“I can’t say the same for any other Tour players I’ve ever worked with. He’s always given a bonus to me every year that I’ve been working with him.”
The relationship has recently been tested. Horschel, Anderson and his team tried to change Anderson’s swing in the off-season. The changes backfired. Horschel, Anderson, and the rest his team had a 45-minute heated discussion in the parking lot after Horschel missed the cut at Arnold Palmer Invitational. Horschel was enraged when he returned to his hotel.
Horschel stated, “I am not a sentimental guy.” “But I did break down and cry a little.”
They have seen encouraging signs.
Horschel stated, “It is getting closer but there are still some challenges and I have bad habits that we are trying to break out of.”
Anderson acknowledged that Horschel has had some rough patches in their 15 year relationship. However, they have always managed to work through them. He believes in sticking to the plan.
“I think that many players make mistakes when they change coaches. Anderson noted that the top players in the World don’t switch coaches. Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler have both worked with Randy Smith since childhood, while Justin Thomas’ father has been his coach for his entire career.
“I believe there has to be a certain level of trust and chemistry established.” Anderson stated that many young players who change coaches lose continuity. “When you jump around from coach to coach and they mess up your foundation, you’ll lose who you are, as a player. Billy has always stayed with me, and he’s always believed in the process we would take to try to help him get back on track.
They’ll be searching for the track with a tenacious determination.
