During the Andersen Consulting World Matchplay Championship at La Costa last February, I waited almost two hours to try to interview coach Butch Harmon after he had finished with his leading client Tiger Woods. My wait was in vain. Since then I have noticed Harmon being similarly attentive during the US Open at Pebble Beach and the British Open at St Andrews.
All of which brought to mind the comments of a leading American coach from an earlier generation. "So many teachers of the game today are gurus, like Billy Graham and other gospel preachers," he said. "They mesmerise people, but they are not necessarily correct. Most of them can't break 80."
"I do not give lessons for a half-hour, an hour or two hours. If I can't straighten you out in a minute, I can't do it in a month." And the source of these pungent remarks? Why it was none other than the 1948 US Masters champion Claude Harmon - father of you know who.
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