Phil Mickelson and His Coach Butch Harmon Part Ways After Eight Years

Phil Mickelson and his coach Butch Harmon have parted ways, but it wasn’t the same type of parting that occurred when Tiger dumped Butch. Phil hopped on a jet and flew to Vegas to share breakfast with Butch and let him know face-to-face that it was time for a change.

"Via Tim Rosaforte: “He flew up on his plane last week to sit down and talk,” Harmon said when I reached him Wednesday night. “We talked for about two hours. 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.”"

At this point in his career, I’m not sure what exactly Butch, or anyone, can teach 45-year-old Phil. Lefty has been fairly consistent, outside of his driving accuracy, in all aspects of his game, especially his sand game around the greens, for a while now, and seems to just want to try something new in hopes that he can capture one more major.

"“I respect him as a person and as a teacher and as a friend, and just wanted to talk to him in person about it,” Mickelson said. “It’s not something you do over the phone. He’s been good to me long before we ever started working together. That stuff is never easy, but it’s what he deserves.” “I’m not sure if it’s going to work out or what I’m going to do exactly,” Mickelson said. “Butch is still going to help me in the sense I’m going to run some ideas by him. After a while things just don’t resonate and I needed to hear something new.”"

According to Rosaforte, Phil said Butch will still be invited to his dinners and will still be a “part of the gang as Rickie Fowler’s instructor during their Tuesday games.”

The pair combined for 12 wins and two majors in their eight years together.

[Via GolfDigest]