Coach to Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Greg Norman, and ranked No. 1 among American golf instructors for more than twenty years: Butch Harmon has one rule—to teach each player his own style of golf.
Butch Harmon He is the most famous golf coach of the modern era: he has coached Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Greg Norman, and was ranked No. 1 among American instructors by his peers for more than twenty years. Here is an overview of his career, his students, his teaching method, and a summary of his video lesson.
Who is Butch Harmon?
Claude “Butch” Harmon Jr. is an American golf instructor, born on August 28, 1943, in New Rochelle, New York. He is the son of Claude Harmon, head pro at Winged Foot Golf Club and winner of the 1948 Masters. His three brothers—Craig, Bill, and Dick—also became professional golfers; people often refer to the “Harmon dynasty,” which began at Winged Foot. The tradition continues with his son, Claude Harmon III, himself a well-known coach on the circuit.
As a player, he turned pro in 1965, earned his PGA Tour card in 1968, and won the inaugural Broome County Open in 1971. But it was his coaching career that made him a legend. In the 1970s, he served as the personal instructor to King Hassan II of Morocco. He went on to coach the world’s top players, before scaling back his travel to tournaments starting in 2019 to devote himself to his school in Las Vegas.
Butch Harmon's Record of Achievements
A coach's record is defined first and foremost by his students and their titles. Here are the most notable ones, along with the victories they achieved while working with Butch Harmon.
| Student or Award | With Butch Harmon |
|---|---|
| Greg Norman | Early 1990s: The 1993 Open Championship and a return to the No. 1 spot in the world rankings |
| Tiger Woods | Starting in 1993: eight major championships, including the 1997 Masters, which he won by 12 strokes, and the 2000–2001 “Tiger Slam” |
| Phil Mickelson | 2007–2015: The Players Championship (2007), Masters (2010), Open Championship (2013) |
| Jimmy Walker | PGA Championship at Baltusrol |
| Other students | Ernie Els, Davis Love III, Fred Couples, Justin Leonard, Stewart Cink, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Nick Watney, Gary Woodland |
| Golf Digest Rankings | Ranked No. 1 among the 50 best professors in the United States, as voted by his peers, for more than twenty years |
| Golf Digest: Legends of Golf Instruction | The first recipient of this award, established in 2023 |
| As a player | 1971 Broome County Open (PGA Tour) |
Butch Harmon's Method
Teach people how to play, not just how to play golf
That's his approach: Butch Harmon says he doesn't teach people how to play golf, but rather teaches people to play golf. In his view, no two golfers are alike. Rather than imposing a standard swing, he helps each player develop better fundamentals while maintaining their own unique motion. This is what has enabled him to help improve the games of players with styles as diverse as those of Greg Norman, Tiger Woods, and Phil Mickelson.
The Basics First
He always starts with the basics: grip, posture, Alignment and ball position. For him, the fundamentals are still the fundamentals: club path and clubface angle are the real keys. The key is to get the clubface square at impact, with a fairly neutral club path, and to do so consistently, regardless of how you get there. Golf is complicated enough as it is: his job is to simplify it. To review these basics: Grip, Address Posture and Position, Alignment and Ball Position by Club.
The Backswing and Power
In The Best Way to Start the Backswing, by Butch Harmon, a lesson from 1997, he reviews the grip, the width of the swing, and hip rotation, then suggests finishing in line with the body rather than toward the target to drive the ball farther. A lesson related to the following topics Backswing, Speed, Power, and Distance and Finish.
The Butch Harmon Academies
His legacy also lives on through his schools. The Butch Harmon School of Golf is located at the Rio Secco Golf Club in Henderson, near Las Vegas, where he now works almost exclusively with small groups. He has also taught at The Floridian in Palm City, Florida. Finally, he has shared his method in several books, including The Four Cornerstones of Successful Golf (1997) to The Perfect Golf Swing (2023), and in The Pro (2007), dedicated to his father.
Butch Harmon's Lessons on Best Golf Tips
- Backswing and Distance (Backswing, Swing and Swing Plane, speed and distance): The Best Way to Start the Backswing, by Butch Harmon.
- The Next Generation in the Family (warm-up): The Minimum Warm-Up for Golf by Claude Harmon III, the lesson from his son.
See also the profiles of his students Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, by his son Claude Harmon III, and those of other great coaches: David Leadbetter and Sean Foley.
Frequently Asked Questions About Butch Harmon: Students, Coaching Method, and Golf Lessons on Video
Who is Butch Harmon?
Claude “Butch” Harmon Jr., born on August 28, 1943, in New Rochelle, New York, is an American golf instructor best known for coaching Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Greg Norman.
When did Butch Harmon coach Tiger Woods?
Starting in 1993, for about ten years. Tiger Woods won eight majors during that time, including the 1997 Masters and the 2000–2001 “Tiger Slam.”.
Which majors did Phil Mickelson win with Butch Harmon?
The 2010 Masters and the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield, during their partnership from 2007 to 2015.
Who was Butch Harmon's father?
Claude Harmon, head pro at Winged Foot Golf Club and winner of the 1948 Masters. His four sons—Butch Harmon, Craig, Bill, and Dick—became professional golfers.
Is Claude Harmon III Butch Harmon's son?
Yes. Claude Harmon III is Butch Harmon's son and is carrying on the family tradition as a coach on the professional circuits.
Where is Butch Harmon's golf school located?
The Butch Harmon School of Golf is located at the Rio Secco Golf Club in Henderson, near Las Vegas, Nevada, where he now teaches almost exclusively.
What is Butch Harmon's philosophy?
He doesn't teach people how to play golf; he teaches them how to play: there's no one-size-fits-all swing—just solid fundamentals (grip, stance, alignment, ball position) and a square clubface at impact.
