Tiger Woods is the greatest player to have ever graced the game in many people’s eyes.
And one of the main reasons why Woods was so dominant in the late 1990s and early 2000s was the exceptional coaching given to him by Butch Harmon.
Many golf fans and analysts believe that, had Woods remained with Harmon post-2002, he would have gone on to break Jack Nicklaus’ record haul of 18 major championships.
That may well have happened if he would have managed to remain injury-free.
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Woods’ swing during his prime was undoubtedly one of the best of all time and it’s no surprise that he was so dominant.
82 PGA Tour wins, including 15 major championships, is a sensational record.
Everyone knew right from the start that Woods was special. Harmon refined the now 49-year-old’s raw and explosive power and turned him into a winning machine.
Butch Harmon shares the first thing Tiger Woods ever said to him
With Woods’ 50th birthday just around the corner, numerous people are hitting the airwaves with their favorite stories about the 15-time major champion.
Harmon is someone who knows Woods better than most, having coached him from 1993 up until 2002.
When speaking to SiriusXM PGA TOUR RADIO, Harmon shared what happened when he first met Woods way back in 1993 when he was just 17.
He said: “I remember the first time I saw him was in ’93 in August at the Lochinvar Golf Club, where I was director of golf, in Houston, and he just lost, I think it was his third round match in the amateur (US amateur).
“His dad brought him over and, you know, he’s hitting balls. And so I said to him, like I do with a lot of young guys. I said, ‘So when you’re playing in tournaments and you absolutely have to hit one in play, what’s your shape? Do you like to draw it or fade it?’
“I’m just trying to get a little, you know, peek into what he’s thinking. He goes, ‘Oh, heck, I just hit it as hard as I can and go find it again.
“And I’m like, well, this is kind of a cocky SOB, but the player I got to know, that was how he played when he was a kid, and he was fearless.
“He was fearless.
“And, you know, one thing, we all know this, that he won six national titles in a row, three juniors, three amateurs, you know, Bobby Jones didn’t do that. Jack didn’t do that.
“But what you don’t know is in every one of those six finals, the match went to the last hole of the round, and he won every single one of them.
“This kid at a young age, had the heart and soul to figure out. I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I’m going to do it, and you can’t teach that.“
That cockiness is what all superstars in every single sport have.
A certain amount of arrogance is actually a good thing, if you can back it up of course, and there was no doubting that Woods could not only talk the talk but walk the walk as well.
What does the future hold for Tiger Woods?
Well, the simple answer to that question is that Woods’ future in the game is entirely dependent on his ability to fully recover from his recent back surgery.
If Woods does manage to reach a point where he can walk 18 holes free of pain, he will still be able to compete on the PGA Tour.
How many majors would Tiger Woods have won without his injuries?
He hits the ball plenty long enough and his short game is right up there with the very best.
Woods may also be tempted to play a certain number of PGA Tour Champions events.
The fact that he would be able to use a cart on the senior circuit would be highly beneficial for him as well.
Most golf fans just want to see Tiger Woods playing regularly again.
He has nothing left to prove, so competing on the PGA Tour 10 or so times per season for the next few years would be a huge win for him and golf fans the world over.
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