Grant Waite – Syndication Server

Viktor Hovland confirms reuniting with swing coach Joe Mayo, opens with 68 at 2024 PGA Championship

Hovland and May had parted ways at the start of the year.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Viktor Hovland has changed coaches yet again. Only this time he’s returned to a familiar face in Joe Mayo.

“Just reached out and was wondering if he could take a look at my golf swing, and let’s get back to work,” Hovland said after posting 3-under 68 in the opening round of the 106th PGA Championship on Thursday at Valhalla Golf Club.

Hovland, the reigning FedEx Cup champion, parted ways with Mayo at the start of the year and worked with noted instructors Grant Waite and Dana Dahlquist this season. Hovland explained these moves in March as searching for that perfect flushed iron shot he cherishes.

“I’m a very curious guy. I like to ask questions,” Hovland said at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. “Sometimes when you ask a question and you get some answers, that leads you down a different path and opens up some new questions and you pursue a different path. I just want to kind of see where it goes. I always like to improve and expand my knowledge.”

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But his play so far this season have been a huge step backwards. The stats don’t lie. In Strokes Gained: tee to green, he tumbled from fourth last season to 122^nd and his short game, which had improved under Mayo, slipped from the positive side (+.060) and No. 86 to the negative and No. 186 (-.74) in SG: Around the Green. Hovland, who is No. 89 in the FedEx Cup this season, has just one top-20 finish – a T-19 at the Genesis Invitational – and missed the cut at the Masters after rounds of 71 and 81.

In a terrific story from Kevin Van Valkenberg of No Laying Up, Mayo reflected on his breakup with Hovland.

“I admit that I have a very strong personality,” Mayo said. “I am hard to take in large doses. That’s one of my many many flaws in life. I realize being around me (for) a year full time, like we were, is probably pretty tough. Without question, I know I am hard to handle for a long period of time. When he said he wanted to do it on his own, I was relieved.”

Viktor Hovland prepares to tee off on the 12th hole during the first round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports)

In comparing himself to what it must be like to play for former Indiana men’s basketball coach Bobby Knight, Mayo said, “It’s something I’ve struggled with my entire life. I’ve been this way since I was a young man. We’ve all got flaws, nobody is perfect. People who know me will tell you ‘Joe is intense, Joe is tough, Joe is hard to handle.’ I guess what I’m trying to say is this: If I had to be honest, if you threatened me with going to prison if I wasn’t honest with you, then I’d say my personality was probably part of Viktor wanting to do it on his own. I admit that. I admit that my strong personality is a turnoff to some people at some point in time. I’m taking the blame, if you will. I’m man enough to admit that, man enough to sack up and say being around me for a year was probably a lot to handle.”

But Hovland confirmed after the first round of the PGA Championship that he phone Mayo last week and they resumed working together.

“He knows my swing really well. He’s really, really smart, and just has a way of looking at my swing and kind of knowing what it is right away,” Hovland said. “Felt like I got some really good answers, was able to apply some of the feels right away, and I saw improvement right away. Yeah, it’s easy to keep going then.”

New swing coach, new patterns, same pursuit of flushing it: Inside the ‘insane part’ of Viktor Hovland’s brain

“It’s been a little bit frustrating so far this year.”

ORLANDO, Fla. — Six months after Viktor Hovland won the Tour Championship, the FedEx Cup and a bundle of cash, he fired one coach, hired another and set off in pursuit of flushing his irons with the consistency and precision he “cherishes.”

“It’s been a little bit frustrating so far this year,” said Hovland, who has yet to record a top-10 finish in three starts this season, speaking at his pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday ahead of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. “Feel like my swing hasn’t been quite as good as it has been in previous years, so it’s been, felt like I’ve tried to prioritize just being home and practicing, putting a lot of work in. Don’t really want to fight through something while playing, it’s just not that fun, and I don’t see the point of it.”

That explains why Hovland withdrew from the WM Phoenix Open after finishing T-58 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which was reduced to 54 holes in February.

What’s harder to explain is his musical chairs among instructors – from Jeff Smith to Joe Mayo and now taking his tips from former Tour pro Grant Waite.

“I’m a very curious guy. I like to ask questions,” Hovland said. “Sometimes when you ask a question and you get some answers, that leads you down a different path and opens up some new questions and you pursue a different path. I just want to kind of see where it goes. I always like to improve and expand my knowledge, and it just happened to lead me down to Grant Waite.”

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Hovland is 26 years old and the winner of six Tour titles. He first played the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in 2020 after winning the U.S. Amateur. He’s finished tied for second and tied for 10^th the last two seasons. When asked to describe what has been off with his game, he said, “It’s just the mechanics of the swing. Just haven’t been able to hit the shots that I want to.”

And that matters to Hovland almost as much as his score.

“I guess that’s kind of the insane part of my brain is that I just enjoy flushing a golf shot,” he said. “Obviously, we’re out here to compete and win tournaments, but I really just cherish being able to hit the shots exactly the way I want to. I think it’s a better predictor of how you’re going to play in the future.”

Hovland finished the 2022-23 season, during which he also won in May at the Memorial, with back-to-back wins at the BMW Championship, where he shot a final-round 61, and at the Tour Championship, and followed with a starring role in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory. So, parting ways with Mayo, who he credits with helping him improve his short game, made for an odd decision (not that his ball striking had many holes when he departed Smith for Mayo). Hovland clearly isn’t a proponent of the old saying that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

“When you’re seeing a shot and your swing is not producing those shots, it becomes very tough to compete, especially at this level,” Hovland said, noting that he had been playing defensive golf instead of swinging with confidence. So, he’s spent countless hours reviewing old swings, especially from 2019 when he first turned pro as well as early 2021, which he tabbed as when he was swinging it best.

2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational — Viktor Hovland of Norway talks with Luke Donald of England during the pro-am ahead of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course on March 06, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

“Kind of seeing the evolution of my swing. It’s very interesting,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of multiple different patterns.”

Hovland’s swing may remain a work-in-progress — “I’m just pressuring the ground a little bit differently,” he explained matter-of-factly — but his accurate driving and mid-iron excellence is why he’s usually in the hunt at Arnie’s Place. The question remains: Will he have enough confidence to make the shots he’s capable of in crunch time?

“If I can stand on the range or on a golf course, see a shot and execute that shot, that gives me confidence,” he said. “The most important thing is that you see the shots that you’re hitting and you have belief that you’re going to do that repeatedly.”

‘He has walked in my shoes’: This former PGA Tour winner-turned-instructor is making quite an impact on the women’s game

This former PGA Tour winner turned instructor is making quite an impact on the women’s game.

The first time Grant Waite met with Jodi Ewart Shadoff, it rained. He filmed two swings, and they talked about her back pain. Ewart Shadoff, who had missed the cut in eight of her last 10 events, feared her career might be cut short. Waite offered a few swing change suggestions to ease the pain and said he’d see her soon at the LPGA stop in Arkansas.

The first hole at Pinnacle Country Club is on the shorter side, and Waite, a former winner on the PGA Tour, watched Ewart Shadoff knock it to 6 feet from about 70 yards. What happened next made a strong impression.

“She walked on the green she just kind of really stopped breathing,” said Waite. “I could tell by her body language how stressed she was. Not only the situation of where she stood the money list, but playing golf at the moment. I said I’ve never had more of an urge to walk on the green and give a player a hug and say everything is going to be OK; I can help you.”

Grant Waite makes a tee shot on the third hole during the second round of the Toshiba Classic at the Newport Beach Country Club on October 8, 2016 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

Ewart Shadoff finished seventh the next week at ShopRite, helping to secure her status for 2022. And then, roughly one year after they started, the 34-year-old Englishwoman won in her 246th start on the LPGA.

“He has walked in my shoes,” said Ewart Shadoff of working with Waite. “He knows what it feels like. He knows what it feels like on the golf course. What’s cool about working with Grant is, he knows how I think. He knows the emotion that it takes to win.”

After competing on the PGA Tour for 13 years, Waite, the 1993 Kemper Open champion, switched gears to teaching. His roster of Tour clients included Charles Howell, Aaron Baddeley, Trevor Immelman and Mike Weir.

The Kiwi then stopped coaching to join the PGA Tour Champions, that is until two surgeries to repair a torn rotator cuff resumed his teaching career. In addition to several PGA Tour hopefuls, Waite’s current roster of LPGA clients represents a wide variety of players in various stages of their careers.

That list no longer includes Patty Tavatanakit, however, who recently told Waite that she wanted to go her own way. The pair went to work ahead of the 2021 season, and she broke through with the Chevron Championship title and Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Award. The pair have worked together on and off this season.

In addition to Ewart Shadoff, Waite’s list of clients includes promising players gearing up for Q-Series and a major champion back from maternity leave. Here’s how he’s helping each of them:

Gabi Ruffels in contention at Meijer LPGA with former PGA Tour winner on the bag

In five starts on the LPGA, Ruffels has made three cuts and earned $63,176.

Gabi Ruffels made her professional debut at the Gainbridge LPGA in February on a sponsor exemption. The bright Aussie star left USC early to pursue a professional career with no status on any tour. She’d have to rely on sponsor exemptions and Monday qualifiers to make her way.

This week’s Meijer LPGA Classic is Ruffels’ fifth exemption of the season. Her final exemption – the LPGA allows up to six for non-members – comes next week at the KPMG Women’s PGA.

It’s not lost on Ruffels that a non-member, Yuka Saso, won the tour’s most recent major.

“If I could do that,” said Ruffels, “that would be pretty awesome.”

Ruffels opened with a 5-under 67 at the Meijer with her coach, Grant Waite, on the bag. Waite, a PGA Tour winner from New Zealand, looped for Patty Tavatanakit for her first two events of the season. She tied for fifth at the Gainbridge and finished T-14 at the Drive On in Ocala with Waite inside the ropes. In April, the LPGA rookie went wire-to-wire to win the ANA Inspiration.

Tavatanakit, Ruffels and Waite are all members of Isleworth in Windermere, Florida. Waite also works with Jennifer Song, who like Ruffels, is a past U.S. Women’s Amateur champ. Ruffels began working with Waite earlier this year.

“He’s played on the PGA Tour I think for 10 years,” said Ruffels, “so it’s really cool to get some of his knowledge and insight and have him on my bag. It’s been awesome.”

Ruffels, who is currently two strokes behind a foursome of players at 7 under, could earn her card and avoid Q-School by either winning an LPGA event or earning the equivalent of the top 40 on the points list by season’s end. She’s currently the equivalent of 83^rd.

Gabi Ruffels — Gabriela Ruffels reads a putt on the 15th green during the first round of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give at Blythefield Country Club on June 17, 2021 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

In her five starts on the LPGA, Ruffels has made three cuts and earned $63,176. She’d be exempt into the second stage of Q-School based on her Rolex Ranking of 136th. Players inside the top 400 are exempt into Stage II. Players within the top 75 as of Aug. 9 are exempt into the final stage, now known as Q-Series.

Ruffels has also made appearances in two Symetra Tour events, finishing fourth and 17th.

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Rookie Patty Tavatankit looks to claim first LPGA title with a PGA Tour winner on the bag

LPGA rookie Patty Tavatankit has a PGA Tour winner on the bag this week at the Gainbridge LPGA as she looks for her first tour win.

ORLANDO, Florida – Patty Tavatanakit’s biggest weapon on Sunday at the Gainbridge LPGA might be the man carrying her bag. Former PGA Tour player Grant Waite works as Tavatanakit’s coach and took her up on caddying for the first two weeks of her season so that he could get a close-up look at how she works inside the ropes.

Tavatanakit, 21, said she feels secure having Waite beside her and it shows. She’s currently one stroke shy of Nelly Korda after a third-round 66 that included four birdies on her last five holes.

“I feel like these two weeks I’m just going to learn a lot just how to be really comfortable,” said Tavatanakit, “and be independent on like decision-making and club selection.”

In July 2019, a 19-year-old Tavatanakit had the golf world on a 59 watch in only her fourth start as a professional. She became the third player in LPGA history to card three eagles in nine holes, making the turn in 29 at the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic. The rising Thai star was 13 under through 10 holes and ultimately finished with a course-record 11-under 61.

Gainbridge LPGA: Leaderboard

Golf Channel broke into its re-airing of the Irish Open to show Tavatanakit’s finish.

Tavatanakit recently moved from Los Angeles to Orlando and now practices out of Isleworth, Lake Nona’s sister club. She connected with Waite, who is also a member at Isleworth, because her boyfriend Andy Zhang frequently practices with Waite’s son, Osten. When the four touring pros would play together, Tavatanakit often peppered Grant with questions.

After competing on the PGA Tour for 13 years Waite, the 1993 Kemper Open champion, switched gears to teaching. His roster of Tour clients included Charles Howell, Aaron Baddeley, Trevor Immelman and Mike Weir.

The Kiwi then stopped coaching to join the PGA Tour Champions, that is until two surgeries to repair a torn rotator cuff sent him back to the teaching ranks. In addition to Tavatanakit, Waite also works with Jennifer Song and Korn Ferry Tour player Curtis Luck. He’s healthy now and hoping to get back out to the senior circuit in 2021.

“One of the big things we’ve been working on is understanding how to play a round of golf in terms of when to be aggressive, when not to,” said Waite.

To be an effective coach, Waite said, it’s important to be able to understand a player beyond the golf swing, which is why these two weeks should prove to be invaluable.

Patty Tavatanakit during round three of the 2021 Gainbridge LPGA at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Tavatankit, a former UCLA standout, is grateful to have this second chance at a rookie season.

“Last year was really hard for me just COVID and traveling alone, not having my parents here,” said Tavatanakit, “which was my decision to kind of want to like grow out of that relationship. It was a hard one to take for me, but I stuck to it, and it’s another rookie you’re for me. I’m grateful for that.

“I learned a lot last year and it really did help me to become like stronger mentally and just know that it’ll be OK.”

It can get loud playing with Tavatanakit. She’s a loud breather by design, exhaling deeply before every shot to keep her heart rate under control. She has been known to be tough on herself.

“I feel like if I hold it in it’ll be suffocating,” said Tavatanakit. “I just need to let it out there.”

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