Phil Mickelson ends ties with coach Butch Harmon 'to hear new ideas'

PHIL MICKELSON has split from coach Butch Harmon after eight years together, a spell which included two of the left-hander's five major championship wins.
Five-time major winner Phil Mickelson (Picture: Eric Christian Smith/AP).Five-time major winner Phil Mickelson (Picture: Eric Christian Smith/AP).
Five-time major winner Phil Mickelson (Picture: Eric Christian Smith/AP).

Mickelson, who flew to Las Vegas last week to tell Harmon in person, said in a statement: "Butch Harmon is one of the great teachers in the history of the game and I believe he deserves to be in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

"I've learned a great deal from him in our eight years together. It's just that at the moment I need to hear new ideas from a different perspective."

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Mickelson won the 2010 Masters and 2013 Open Championship under Harmon, but the victory at Muirfield is his last to date and the 45-year-old has since recorded just five top-10 finishes.

One of those came at Augusta National in April, where he finished joint second behind Jordan Spieth, but he was not a factor in any of the year's other majors - he needs to win the US Open to complete a career grand slam - and failed to qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship for the second season in succession.

"I've thoroughly enjoyed working with Phil and we've had great success together," Harmon said in a statement. "Helping him win the Open Championship in 2013 was one of the pinnacles of my career. I see nothing wrong with him seeking advice from another source. We're great friends and always will be."