Phil Mickelson Splits with Coach Butch Harmon After Eight Years

RANCHO SANTA FE, California (AP) — Five-time major champion Phil Mickelson has decided to leave swing coach Butch Harmon after eight years.

Mickelson said in a statement to Golf.com that he has learned a great deal from Harmon since they began working together in 2007. Mickelson said at this time he needs to “hear new ideas from a different perspective.”


Shortly after he began working with Harmon, Mickelson won The Players Championship and then added the Deutsche Bank Championship while going head-to-head with Tiger Woods. Mickelson joked that Harmon taught him nuances of playing with Woods from Harmon’s decade of working with Woods.

Image Caption : Phil Mickelson Won 15 Times with Butch Harmon, Including the Masters in 2010 and British Open in 2013. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File)

Mickelson won 15 times with Harmon, including the Masters in 2010 and British Open in 2013.

He did not indicate who his next coach would be.