Latest news with #PhilKenyon
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
The Englishman who turned around Scheffler's putting fortunes
When world number one Scottie Scheffler reached out to one of golf's most sought-after putting coaches in September 2023, he could not have imagined the transformation it would bring to his American was already a major champion and had won twice that season but he was in a fug. The statistics proved he was the best from tee to green. They also proved he was among the worst with a putter in Tour players hole 90% of putts from four feet. At that time, Scheffler was making 80%. The best player in the world was ranked outside the top 150 in putting and fending off the same questions every in Phil Kenyon, coach to the best in the 12 months, Scheffler had risen into the top 15 putters and completed a remarkable season, winning seven PGA Tour events, including a second Masters, and an Olympic gold medal at the Paris he arrives at this week's Open Championship on the back of a run of three victories in his past 10 events - including winning his third major at the US PGA Championship - and finishing in the top 10 in the other seven to reaffirm his position as the world's dominant player."That was a particular high for Scottie after some lows and a lot of discussion about his putting," Kenyon told BBC Sport of the American's major victory at Augusta National in April 2024."And for him to putt so well fairly early on in my role working with him, that was a highlight for me."So what did Kenyon tweak? He helped with green reading, to give Scheffler more confidence in his own ability. He helped change his it was a switch from his trusted blade to a mallet putter "to help him with lining up putts" that really sparked a change in another poor performance on the greens in February 2024, long-time friend and mentor Brad Payne - speaking in a PGA Tour documentary of that season - recounted a conversation they had in Scheffler's Dallas home: "I said 'buddy, how are you doing?' and he said, 'I don't think I'm doing well'."That was after the Genesis Invitational, where Scheffler finished joint 10th. The mallet putter made its debut in his next event and Scheffler won four of his following five tournaments, including the Masters by four strokes. Who is Phil Kenyon? Kenyon, who hails from the seaside town of Southport, on England's 'golf coast', grew up surrounded by the game. His dad was friends with 'Britain's putting doctor' Harold Swash, who worked with European Tour legends Nick Faldo, Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood among many others."He would pay me to help him out, carrying his gear around, and was a huge inspiration," said Kenyon, who was was a decent amateur and turned professional after studying a sports science quickly realised he "didn't have the game" to make a living as a pro so, with Swash as a mentor, started coaching."Harold was slowing down at that time so it gave me an opportunity to get stuck in," he added."I've been at it 25 years. You just work on your craft day-to-day and it organically develops. I never envisaged travelling the world though, following players to tournaments."And while he is quick to deflect the praise, Kenyon's achievements are impossible to triumph at May's US PGA Championship meant the Englishman completed the career 'Golden Slam' of coaching players to all four major titles and Olympic Henrik Stenson and Francesco Molinari picked up Claret Jugs while under his tutelage; Matt Fitzpatrick and Gary Woodland won the US Open; Justin Rose won gold at the Rio 2016 Games; Scheffler picked up a second Green Jacket and Olympic title in their first year working also has Tommy Fleetwood and US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley among his client list. 'McIlroy helped make me a better coach' Kenyon also still coaches from his studio in Formby on Merseyside and is equally as comfortable teaching a pro or an amateur."Different players provide different challenges," he said."I can get stuck into the weeds with the best of them if that's the route you want to go down but it's about trying to work out the right balance for each player."There is a terrific video from 2021 of Kenyon and Rose going through some technical are mic'd up so you can hear Rose asking for reassurance and guidance as Kenyon buzzes round the green, offering words of encouragement while simultaneously checking putter head alignment and confirming slope angles with a spirit is more into the stats. "In comparison to those two, Scheffler plays a lot more 'feel' and is a simpler golfer," said Kenyon. "He's less technical, less stats orientated, but equally, if not more, competitive."All the best players I've worked with are questioning and probing - you're working together to find the right solutions for them."Kenyon also spent some time coaching Rory McIlroy, with the pair hooking up post-2016 Olympics. "I felt like I did a decent job of improving him technically over that period of time but he felt the need to find other things," said Kenyon of their time together."In hindsight, some things I would have done differently. But I'm glad I didn't. You learn from it and I became a better coach because of it. "There are things that I learned through that experience with Rory that have helped me with Scottie." How to adapt to putting at The Open The professional circuit has arrived in the UK for two weeks of the links golf Kenyon was brought up on at Hillside Golf Club in on the coastal courses that host the annual Scottish Open and Open Championship are vastly different to those players encounter on the PGA Tour and it's all about adapting the three key areas of line, speed and green week's Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club near Edinburgh will have been a "great opportunity to prep" for this week's Open at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland."The big thing is getting the speeds," said Kenyon, who will be prowling the practice putting green "keeping on top of the maintenance" of his job at tournaments is more like "supervised practice" and "cheerleading" rather than getting into technical work."Links greens are slower than in the US and they can have more subtle slopes," he explained."And then you've got the wind. Wind will be a big factor. It influences the break a lot and when you've got these subtleties of break and wind it makes it a very different challenge in your read. "It's like in tennis - you've had clay court season and then you get on to grass - part of your preparation is adapting to the surfaces you're putting on."A lot of adaption occurs subconsciously and I'm there to provide feedback, making sure they are comfortable with what they are doing." What's the secret to putting like a pro? "You've got three skills to master. Starting the ball on the right line. Controlling the speed. Reading the green," said Kenyon."And there are a variety of techniques you can use within each skill. With all of them it's about trying to find the right technique for you, what matches you as a person, your personality."You can't just master two out of the three, though. All three skills need to be working in harmony for putts to of the techniques Kenyon coaches for green reading, for example, is AimPoint, which has been around for a couple of decades but has recently increased in popularity and is used by players such as former world number one Adam Scott, Rose and is being seen as a way of speeding up the putting process. In basic terms, players use their feet to feel and grade the severity of slope from one to three. They then hold up the corresponding number of fingers out in front of them towards the hole to line up the putt, using the outside edge of the fingers as the aim point."It's a valid method that is growing in appeal, but there are other ways to read greens," said Kenyon, who points to the internet as a huge source of information."It's not always good but people will come across things that will make them think more and that 'oh, I should try that this weekend'."And when you are next out and trying new putting techniques, perhaps frustrated at missing that eight-footer to 'win The Open', remind yourself that PGA Tour players fail to hole from that distance 50% of the time.
Forbes
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Why The Best Still Need A Coach: What Business Leaders Can Learn From Scottie Scheffler
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 14: Scottie Scheffler of the United States works with putting coach ... More Phil Kenyon in the practice area prior to the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 14, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by) Even the best in the world need coaching. To some, that might seem counterintuitive. After all, when you're on top—when you're winning championships, closing deals, or setting the pace for your industry—why bring someone else in? But that's exactly what the world's best do. They never stop learning, never stop improving—and they're humble enough to know they can't do it alone. Just ask Scottie Scheffler. Coming off a blistering run in 2022 and 2023—crowned the world's No. 1 golfer, earning PGA Tour Player of the Year, and capturing six titles including the Masters and the Players Championship—Scheffler could've easily settled into comfort. He was, by every metric, dominant. But Scheffler saw a gap in his game: putting. And instead of ignoring it or trying to brute-force his way through it, he brought in help. Not just anyone—Phil Kenyon, widely recognized as one of the sharpest putting minds in the sport. That decision didn't just fine-tune Scheffler's performance. It transformed it. 'I was arguably working too hard on my putting,' Scheffler admitted. 'Putting too much pressure on myself to be perfect… and that made me more excited to fix it.' That's what elite performers do. They turn frustration into fuel. Less than two years later, golf insiders are saying Scheffler is now one of the best putters on tour. Certainly, his résumé since partnering with Kenyon tells the story: 10 more wins, including another Masters, another Players Championship, the Tour Championship, the PGA Championship, and a gold medal in the Paris Olympics. That's what happens when you combine world-class talent with world-class coaching. 'Scottie has a natural intuition,' Kenyon said. 'We just helped him access it more effectively.' Scheffler didn't lose his edge—he sharpened it by inviting in a coach who could help him grow in an area he knew needed improvement. He didn't bring in a new coach because he was failing. Scheffler turned to Kenyon because he wasn't satisfied with being great when he could be greater. Viktor Hovland has also benefited from having a new coach. After becoming the first Norwegian player to win on the PGA Tour and capturing the FedEx Cup in 2023, Hovland seemed poised to break into the top echelon of golfers. But a winless 2024 season forced a moment of clarity and he brought in a new swing coach. PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 16: Viktor Hovland of Norway reacts on the 14th hole during the ... More third round of THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass on March 16, 2024 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) 'I've been seeing better results in practice,' Hovland said in March. 'That's promising, because if I can't hit the shots in practice, there's no point in playing tournaments.' Later that month, Hovland overcame a three stoke deficit in the final holes of the Valspar Championship to beat Justin Thomas. It was a return to form for Hovland, and his first win in over a year. That's the power of coaching—especially when the pressure is mounting and expectations are high. The business world often celebrates individual genius, lone-wolf innovation, and self-made grit. But the best leaders know better. Coaching isn't about weakness. It's about refinement. It's about amplifying strengths. Mark Moses, the founder of CEO Coaching International, recently offered some insights into how to get results from coaching, including making sure everyone buys into it. 'Agreement is optional, commitment is not,' Moses said. 'Ultimately, we all have to be committed to it in order to achieve the outcome.' The smartest companies are already moving away from traditional performance improvement plans and toward embedded coaching cultures. CEO Coaching International has more than 1,200 clients in 75 countries across the globe. Why? Because they've learned what Scottie Scheffler has: even your A-players have room to grow—and the best of your best want to grow. NASSAU, BAHAMAS - NOVEMBER 29: Scottie Scheffler of The United States lines up a putt watched by ... More putting coach Phil Kenyon during the pro-am as a preview for the Hero World Challenge at Albany Golf Course on November 29, 2023 in Nassau, . (Photo by) Here's the truth every leader should carry with them: If your best people aren't being coached, they're either plateauing or preparing to leave. Just like on the golf course, it's not about correcting flaws—it's about helping greatness evolve. Scheffler didn't reinvent himself. He refined what was already extraordinary. He leaned into his humility, putting ego aside and bringing in someone who could make him sharper. That's a leadership blueprint and not just a sports story. The world's best are always learning. Are you?
New York Times
11-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Scottie Scheffler is now an elite putter — a problem for the rest of the U.S. Open field
OAKMONT, Pa. — Sitting on a plane from Atlanta to Dallas, Scottie Scheffler and his manager looked at each other, thinking the same thing. It was time. 'You know,' Scheffler said. 'I want to see a putting coach.' In hindsight, this was the critical moment in golf's future. It was August 2023, and Scheffler left the Tour Championship at risk of becoming golf's great wasted opportunity. The conversations kept building, the scrutiny too. The then-27-year-old world No. 1 was becoming so absurdly good that his fatal flaw could no longer be handled with subtlety. From March to August, he finished in the top five of nine of 13 tournaments — one of the most incredible runs of consistency the sport had seen in years — and won none of them. Advertisement With each close call, the sentiment was the same: If Scheffler could putt at just an average level, he'd be the closest thing to Tiger Woods the sport had seen since Tiger's heyday. The other tricky element in this conversation? The manager he was looking at, Blake Smith, was the son of Scheffler's lifelong coach. Randy Smith had helped mold Scheffler from a precocious little 7-year-old at Royal Oaks Country Club to one of the best ball strikers in golf history. These dynamics can be tricky. 'I think that's a good idea,' Blake said. 'Let's talk to Randy.' Soon after, a call went out to a coaching great, Englishman Phil Kenyon. A week after that, Kenyon visited with the Scheffler team in Texas. Less than two years later, there's a quiet little storyline developing in golf. One nobody quite wants to say out loud. Scheffler hasn't just improved at putting. He's one of the best on the PGA Tour. The faintest echo can be heard in the Pennsylvania hills this week — the rest of golf admitting, 'All hope is lost.' No, really. By spring 2024, Scheffler's work with Kenyon and the decision to switch to a mallet putter led to him putting at a marginally above average level all season. The prophecies turned out to be true, as Scheffler won his second Masters, a Players Championship and nine tournaments worldwide in perhaps golf's best season in 20 years. In 2025, Scheffler is one of the 10 best putters on tour. In 12 starts, he's gained more than half a stroke putting compared to the field in seven tournaments, according to DataGolf. At the Masters, he gained 1.22 strokes putting on a week when he drove it poorly. He gained even more in Houston and at the Byron Nelson. Let's get to the crazy part. If we can agree that tee-to-green play is the best marker for an elite player, and you list the top players in the approach category (where Scheffler ranks No. 1), you'd have to go 108 names down the list to find somebody putting better than Scheffler. So he's the best iron player, the third best driver and now the best putter among all the other contenders? Advertisement Of all the players we expect to contend this week at Oakmont, he's statistically the best. 'There was times maybe throughout 2023 where I was arguably working too hard on my putting and putting too much pressure on myself to be perfect out there,' Scheffler said last month. 'I'm a pretty competitive guy, and sometimes when I'm not succeeding at something, it makes me even more excited to kind of fix it. 'But golf is not really a game where you can force things. If you are playing a sport like football or basketball, you can force things based on adrenaline or pushing people out of the way or whatever it is. Golf, I feel like it's more letting the scores come to you. And you have to be a lot more patient, I think, in this sport than you do other ones, especially over the course of a 72-hole tournament.' He found Kenyon, a coach who's done it all, working with a list of major championship-winning clients from Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson and Gary Woodland to Matt Fitzpatrick, Darren Clarke and Francesco Molinari. That wide range of elite clients is part of what drew Scheffler to the Englishman, because he saw how Kenyon coached different styles. Fitzpatrick lines up his putts while Keegan Bradley doesn't use a line on the ball, for example. 'I could tell that he was open-minded, and that's the type of people I like to work with,' Scheffler said. Much of Kenyon's work with Scheffler has been about freeing Scheffler up to be creative and confident. During his worst putting stretches, Scheffler leaned on his caddie, Ted Scott, to help with reads. Kenyon, on a podcast with Peter Finch, said Scott is a great green reader, but it had unintended consequences. 'I think it was creating some indecision in some of Scottie's reads,' Kenyon said. 'Intuitively, he builds a really good picture of the green. So we helped him tap into his own intuition more easily in terms of his green reading.' Advertisement Simplifying the process was everything. One of the other early changes in 2024 was to stop lining up his putts with the line of the ball. Most golfers use that little black line on the ball to give them a clear direction to aim. 'I think he was getting very line locked by using that,' Kenyon said. That freed Scheffler up to lean on his natural creativity and athleticism. Then came the famous mallet switch, before the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational, after Rory McIlroy said on a broadcast that he wondered if making the switch would help Scheffler's putting woes. McIlroy's comment was not why he switched, but two weeks later, Scheffler did it. And of course, he won Bay Hill by five shots. A week later, he won the Players. Two starts later? A Masters win. Kenyon said the mallet gave Scheffler a sight line and configuration that helped him with his line without using the ball line. 'I think one of the biggest things is giving him clarity in what he's doing that is actually relative to the faults he has,' Kenyon continued. 'I think he'd gone down different roads trying to improve things that weren't wrong. And when you're working on the wrong things you're never really getting to the root of the problem, are you?' Perhaps the most fascinating — and scary for his competitors — element is the constant little changes and evolution since late 2023. First came the change in green reading and the line changes. Then the putter. But before the Hero World Challenge in December, Scheffler debuted a claw grip with his putter. Kenyon said that helped with consistency and stability in release, plus more control of his face. Scheffler won the Hero by six. It keeps going. Scheffler is right-eye dominant, which is part of what makes his golf swing so cool and impressive. NBC analyst Smylie Kaufman said: 'When you start thinking about how he swings the golf club. When you look at it from a face on angle, you see how over the ball he is. When you watch his sternum, everything is kind of out in front of the golf ball and his head is kind of staying in there looking at it a long time, and I think that has a lot to do with his eyesight, so his right eye can be on top of the golf ball.' Sometimes, though, it can lead to setup issues with his setup getting too far left. Advertisement But Kenyon told Kaufman at the PGA Championship that the same concept can lead to setup issues with his putting. He was putting well enough not to address it then — and Scheffler still won by five — but they attacked it before the Memorial, where Scheffler won again by four. So in two years, Scheffler went from the best ball striker of his era, who couldn't putt, to an OK putter to one of the best in the game. We are running out of nitpicks for the world No. 1. There aren't many issues left. Anything Scheffler wants to get better at, he simply does. It's a good thing Scheffler made that call. It's bad for everyone else.
