While there are so many factors which saw Tiger Woods become potentially the greatest golfer of all-time, it is intriguing to wonder what would have happened had he not begun his career working with Butch Harmon.
Tiger Woods has not only won 15 major titles, but it is frightening to think of the percentage of current PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf players who were inspired by the 49-year-old.
His father obviously played such an important role – and still seems to to this day, nearly two decades on from his passing. Meanwhile, it was Butch Harmon who coached Woods throughout the early stages of his career before they parted ways in 2002.
They had huge success together, with Woods enjoying one of the greatest seasons of all-time in 2000. He would also win eight of his 15 majors in that time.
How Tiger Woods instantly reminded Butch Harmon of Ben Hogan
Harmon has to take plenty of credit. But some of the crucial tools were already in place when they met for the first time.
In fact, speaking to 5 Clubs in 2023, Harmon shared what he noticed about Woods the first time they met which left him stunned and excited about his potential.
“I can tell you when it was, it was August way back in ’93. He was a teenager, he had just lost his third round match in the Amateur Championship at Champions, and his dad brought him over. He was a skinny, little kid. I still have the film in my computer that I show people all the time,” he said.
“The one thing I saw, and this is interesting, he had the fastest unwind of a body I had ever seen through the ball since Ben Hogan. Because Ben Hogan’s body rotation was so fast, he could rotate his body so quick. And I saw that instantly with this young man. I went, ‘wow, no wonder he has so much power’.”
How golf was denied seeing both Hogan and Woods realise their full potential
Hogan is such a pivotal figure in golf’s history. Like Woods, he was a career grand slam winner – winning nine major titles during his incredible career.
His views on the golf swing set the standard, with many of his ideas still having an impact on the game today.
Given that Harmon probably knows the professional game better than anyone alive today, it is enormous praise to compare Woods with Hogan while he remained such a raw talent.
Remarkably, Hogan did not win his first major title until the age of 34, partly due to World War II. Like Woods, he also saw his career interrupted by a serious car accident. Meanwhile, Woods had won 14 of his 15 majors by the same age.
Had injury not played in such a defining role in Woods’ career over the last 15 years, it is hard to imagine him not overtaking Jack Nicklaus‘ tally of 18 majors.
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