Chamblee on Tiger: Already at 25 majors if he stays with Harmon; Repeated swing changes ‘crazy’

When I asked Brandel Chamblee about his repeated criticism of Tiger Woods, he launched into a six-minute speech. Definitely worth reading in its entirety.

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Chamblee: If there’s anything that anyone could say, it’s that since Tiger has ascended to No. 1 in the world with four different golf swings, it does not matter how he swings the golf club. You could take the top 100 teachers and with all those different teaching methods, he could take them all to No. 1 in the world.

Now who could do it in the most efficient way? I think we know who that person is. I think we’ve already seen who that person is. And if Tiger had stayed with that person (Butch Harmon), and hadn’t left out of petty differences, hadn’t left out of boredom, he would have already broke Jack’s records. People would no longer debate about the greatest golfer of all time. As inconceivable as it seems to anyone who grew up watching Jack Nicklaus, it would be a moot argument. Tiger would have won 25 majors; he would have won 100 golf tournaments if he stayed with (Harmon).

While I’m critical of the changes he’s made, what I’m most critical is the toll and time it took to make those changes on his body. The greatest gift is time. He achieved this incredible success and consistency, only to tear it down and build it back up. To get where? To get back to the same exact spot where he was. To then tear that down and build it back up. Where was the goal? To get back where he was.

I get it. A friend of mine said this: He is like the pianist who has mastered every piece of music. The only problem is, in order to advance, he needs more music. Well, Beethoven is dead. So how does he come up with new music? He has to create it himself.

Tiger always was going somewhere with his golf game. Now he’s going somewhere with his golf swing. That’s where I’m critical of him. He was in the middle of this one, long flawless note and he stopped or he was interrupted, whichever one you want to choose. And he’s trying to recreate it again.

I’m also critical, because I stood next to him and I watched the greatest golf swing the game has ever seen. The greatest stretch of golf the world has ever seen. And he willfully dismantled it. That’s the craziest thing in the history of sports. Not golf. All of sports. There’s no equivalent to it, but if you’re a sports fan, it’s literally the ’27 Yankees starting with a new roster in 1928.

So while I think it is the most bizarre thing in the history of sport, it’s also the most interesting thing in the history of sport. It keeps people glued to their TV.

 

 

2 thoughts on “Chamblee on Tiger: Already at 25 majors if he stays with Harmon; Repeated swing changes ‘crazy’

  1. Brandel, I agree with all you stated; however, he is where he is and I feel he has to see this latest reinvention to the end before he can make another major decision. A well written article, thanks for your insights.

  2. Butch is a swing adjuster and a motivator .
    Tiger’s winning (don’t care how many) have never matched the way he won when he was with butch.
    Foley is a camera man and Hank is a talker.
    After all golf is a feel and a natural ability to coordinate and butch is a coach who played it ,felt it and adjusted.
    Tiger, call butch please before it’s not too late.

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