LessonTee | A game for the majors
Phil might have the tour's
most complete arsenal
There are many great traits in Phil's game that the average golfer can copy. He has always had superb rhythm and phenomenal hands in his short game through to his long game. Balance and control have, at times, been issues for Phil. When you'd watch him play, you'd see aggressive shots--some were successful and some not so successful. Today you still see those aggressive shots, but they're more controlled, especially in major championships.
The swing you see here is Phil in "go" mode. His driver swing is long, but it's sequenced very well, and his improved fundamentals are helping him hit a lot more fairways. His iron swing is more of a control swing. He hits all kinds of cuts and draws, high and low, and manages his distance well--common skills among the world's best players. He's got the complete arsenal: more shots than anybody I've ever seen, and maybe more than any other golfer in the game's history.
It's been great to work on some basics with Phil, without changing the signature of his swing. With the driver, he doesn't like the feeling of being short and tight, or restricted in any way. His body is built for a long, flowing motion. We have made some adjustments, but the flavor of what he does has been the same for a long time.
It's been so exciting to see Phil play great in the majors. One thing I want to point out is that nobody works harder on his game than Phil does. I learned from working with Jack Nicklaus in the 1990s that it's not about the quantity of practice balls you hit--it's about the quality. That's a great lesson to take from what Phil has accomplished. Hitting hundreds of balls and looking for clues doesn't work. You have to have a plan, and he's definitely got one. Watch for him to win a lot more.
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