"He’s totally out of his mind"- Scottie Scheffler hilariously describes his 'genius' coach's skills that leave him in awe
Scottie Scheffler has worked with Randy Smith as his swing coach for most of his career. Under Smith's watchful eye, Scheffler has become a two-time Major champion, Olympic gold medalist and 13-time PGA Tour winner, among other extraordinary accomplishments.
His confidence in Smith's abilities has led Scheffler to call him a "genius. In fact, he's amazed that other professional players don't seek him out for his expertise, as he explained in a recent appearance on the Subpar podcast.
This was part of what Scottie Scheffler had to say (via Golf.com):
"I mean, am I surprised [that other players are not looking to be trained by him]? Yeah. Randy is like — I mean, he’s totally out of his mind. But when it comes to the golf swing, he is such a genius. He’s like a little savant."
Scottie Scheffler gave a personal example to illustrate Randy Smith's genius. Scheffler's anecdote occurred after the first round of the Masters, when he didn't feel good about his swing even though his score was excellent.
"I told him what I was feeling," Scheffler recalled. "He gave me one tip to adjust my grip slightly, I hit a few shots and it was like a lightbulb went off. I felt what I wanted to feel and it was kinda game on from there, I didn’t have to think of anything else."
Who is Scottie Scheffler's coach?
Randy Smith is one of the most decorated golf coaches in the game. He has won the PGA of America National Award 18 times (all-time leader) and was inducted into the PGA of America's Hall of Fame in 2005, coincidentally around the same time he met Scottie Scheffler.
Smith's career as a coach includes working with several professional golf stars, most notably Major champion Justin Leonard. He currently serves as Golf Professional Emeritus and Director of Instruction at Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas, Texas.
It was at Royal Oaks that he met Scheffler when he was eight years old. He has worked with him ever since, guiding him to major victories in all categories.
With Smith as his teacher, Scheffler won the 2013 US Junior Amateur and the 2015 Big 12 Championship in US collegiate golf. Smith also guided Scheffler in his transition to professional golf in 2018, and in all of his professional victories to date.
Scheffler won two tournaments in his only season on the Korn Ferry Tour (2019), but he had to wait three years to reach the PGA Tour winner's circle, as his first victory came in 2022.
From there, however, his rise was meteoric, as he won 13 tournaments in just two years, including two Masters Tournament titles and two Players Championship titles.
Other significant victories include the 2021 Ryder Cup victory, two Presidents Cup victories (2022, 2024), the 2024 Paris Olympic title and the 2023 Hero World Challenge title.