Reports: Phil Mickelson splits with Butch Harmon, hires Andrew Getson as swing coach
Phil Mickelson hasn’t won since the 2013 British Open, and he believes that to change that skid he has to change instructors.
Mickelson has parted ways with Butch Harmon after eight years, as first reported by Golf.com.
“I’ve learned a great deal from him in our eight years together,” Mickelson said in a statement to the publication. “It’s just that at the moment I need to hear new ideas from a different perspective.”
The pair began working together in 2007, with Mickelson quickly notching an important win at The Players Championship that year. Mickelson went on to win a dozen total times with Harmon as his set of eyes, including the 2010 Masters and the Open at Muirfield two years ago.
Since that Open win, Mickelson has posted just five top-10 finishes, including a pair of runner-up finishes in the 2014 PGA Championship and 2015 Masters. In 2014, Mickelson missed the cut at the Masters for the first time since 1997.
According to Golf Digest, Mickelson flew to Vegas, Harmon’s home base, to end their relationship in person.
“We talked for about two hours,” Harmon said to Golf Digest. “I completely agreed that sometimes you need to hear things a different way, get a different perspective on things. He’s been frustrated the last two years. I thought it was a good idea that he would do this. He needs to hear things differently that maybe get him rejuvenated and get him back to what we all know he can be.”
It’s not as though the 72-year-old Harmon won’t be busy. He continues to work with Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson and Jimmy Walker.
Meanwhile, Mickelson has apparently already identified a new coach, with Golf Digest separately reporting the five-time major winner has hired Andrew Getson. Mickelson knows Getson through his association with Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. Getson has been at the club, where Mickelson formed a relationship after moving on from Arizona State in 1992, for six years. He played pro golf for a decade and has worked with other touring pros, including Kevin Streelman.
After a disappointing 2014, Mickelson recommitted to his fitness in an attempt to gain back some of the swing speed he had lost in his 40s. Now at 45, Mickelson is looking to make adjustments in his mechanics for one final run to the top.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
