Four-time major winner Brooks Koepka and long-time coach Claude Harmon III have parted ways after seven years of working together.
Golfweek broke the news of a text sent by Koepka that read: “I love Claude, we had a great run and he’s still family to me, but unfortunately we’re not working together anymore.”
It’s understood that the decision was made just three days after the Masters where one of Harmon’s other students, Dustin Johnson romped to a first Green Jacket. Koepka enjoyed a top-10 finish at Augusta but that wasn’t to save a working relationship that began all the way back in 2013.
It’s been a difficult spell for Koepka of late, dogged by persistent knee and hip injuries last year that saw him endure a winless 2020. Koepka has sought counsel elsewhere in the past, commenting after a brief session with Claude’s dad, Butch Harmon – “What Butch said, I mean he saw it in four swings.”
Whether that was an early indication of something not quite clicking between Claude and Brooks is unknown but rumours are circling that Pete Cowen could prove to be the man to replace Claude at the helm of one of golf’s best swingers. Cowen already works with Koepka, mostly on short game, and the former world number one was quick to praise the work of the Englishman who flew to America amid Covid to help Brooks on his way to a share of second at the FedEx St Jude back in August.
“Pete is obviously one of the best coaches ever, in my opinion,” Koepka said after an opening 62 that week at TPC Southwind. Whether that means Cowen will take the reins ahead of a bumper 2021 season, only time will tell.
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