Younger Harmon helping refine Koepka’s swing
Claude’s influence spreads as teaching pro, TV contributor
The Harmon name was in the news again last weekend at the U.S. Open.
Only this time it wasn’t Butch Harmon, the Las Vegas resident and top teaching professional.
Claude Harmon III, Butch’s son, is the swing coach for Brooks Koepka, who finished at 16-under par to win the Open by four strokes, tying Rory Mcilroy’s tournament record for most shots under par.
Claude Harmon operates a Butch Harmon school facility at the Floridian Country Club in Palm City, Florida. In the late 1990s, he worked at his father’s school at Rio Secco Golf Club in Henderson. He’s also a regular contributor for Golf Channel and is ranked by Golf Digest as a top 100 teaching professional.
Butch Harmon walked with Koepka and Claude Harmon during a practice round at Erin Hills Golf Club in Wisconsin. The elder Harmon predicted in a Golf Digest story that Koepka and Rickie Fowler, who finished fifth, would have great weeks. Butch Harmon is Fowler’s swing coach.
“(Koepka) is going to win a major someday,” Butch Harmon said. “Is it going to be this week? It could be, but his game is the best I’ve ever seen him play.
“The thing I like about Fowler and Koepka is they putt really well and their short games are really good around the greens.”
Hoffman records best finish
Former UNLV All-american Charley Hoffman led the U.S. Open several times, but a triple bogey on the eighth hole in the final round ended his chances of winning his first major. He took eighth, his best finish in a major.
Topgolf Tour hits Las Vegas
Amateurs across America and the United Kingdom are competing like pros in a 20-city Topgolf Tour this summer and fall. The regular Las Vegas tour event is scheduled for July 9.
The winning two-person team from each region earns a trip to Las Vegas for the Topgolf Tour Championship on Oct. 14 and 15, with first place worth $50,000. The tour was established in 2016.
Wise secures PGA Tour card
New Las Vegas resident Aaron Wise won the Web.com Tour Air Capital Classic and has secured his official PGA Tour card for next season.
Aussie duo win father/son event
Lee and Dylan Martin, who recently moved to Las Vegas from Australia, won the net division of the SNGA Father and Son Classic last week at Las Vegas National. Dylan will be a senior at Faith Lutheran High School. Tyler and Brevin Barlow won the Callaway division. Brevin played last season for the
Bob Miller Middle School golf team, which won the city championship.
Legacy champs
Nick Jurado and Jim Foss recently won the Legacy Golf Club member-member tournament.
Amateur blitzes Cactus Tour pro field
Sirene Blair, an amateur from South Jordan, Utah, won the Cactus Tour event last week at Legacy by nine shots.
Blair shot rounds of 74-65-68 to finish at 9 under and defeat a field of mini-tour pros and top amateurs. Las Vegas resident Alexandra Kaui
tied for fourth.
Deal of the week
Play Eagle Crest, Palm Valley or Highland Falls at Golf Summerlin and get a same-day replay for $15.