If you caught Scottie Scheffler‘s quirky practice routine before the PGA Championship action, you would have seen one person walk up to him and hold his hips while the World No.1 practiced his swing. That was Randy Smith. But who is Randy Smith? Smith is none other than the man behind Scheffler’s swing, i.e., the World No.1’s swing coach. The Texas native is the all-time leading PGA of America National Award winner with 18 national awards, including the 1996 PGA of America Professional of the Year. He was also inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame. Recently, Smith has been a very visible presence alongside Scheffler at Quail Hollow during the PGA Championship.

Recently at the Golf Channel, the duo’s presence was discussed in detail, with Brandel Chamblee weighing in with some important thoughts: “These two have been a team.” Chamblee stated about the pair. He then showered praise on the coaching of Randy Smith. “Twenty juniors from his junior golf camps have made it into professional golf at the highest level. I think that’s a testament to him.” The former PGA Tour pro added.

Smith has coached several top players, including the likes of Justin Leonard, Colt Knost, Ryan Palmer, and Martin Laird. However, there is no doubt about who his best student has been — Scottie Scheffler.  And the World No. 1 holds his coach in high regard. “When it comes to the golf swing, he is such a genius. He’s like a little savant.” Scheffler stated.

One incident that happened during last year’s Masters encapsulates how little details matter for Smith.“The first round I had played good, I scored really well, some of the best of the year in terms of playing and scoring and controlling my ball. But I didn’t feel very good about how I was swinging it. I came off the course and Randy was like, ‘great job, how are you feeling?’ And I was like, ‘My swing did not feel good today, I feel like I was just scraping it around.’” Scheffler explained the situation.

All Randy Smith did was to give him a small pointer on how to adjust his grip. And that was all that Scheffler needed. The rest, as they say, is history. “I told him what I was feeling, 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.” Scheffler added. The World No.1 went on to clinch his second Masters title that week.

Chamblee summed up their relationship perfectly by drawing a stellar parallel with another famous duo. “When you put that sort of luck together with the talent and tenacity that Scottie Scheffler has, it sort of equals what Jack Nicklaus had with Jack Grout.” The broadcaster explained. The relationship between the esteemed Jack Nicklaus and his coach, Jack Grou,t is something of a legend in golfing circles.

The Jacks that ruled the game

“He wouldn’t let me take my heels off the ground for the first year I played golf. You learn how to roll your ankles, learn how to shift your weight, learn how to release the club. Teachings of Alex Morrison.” Nicklaus explained the learning process he went through. An 18-time Major winner does not just happen. Grout’s firm adherence to basics was key in developing Jack Nicklaus into the golfer he became.  Every season, Nicklaus began by going to Grout for a lesson. They’d go over the fundamentals thoroughly and make sure that the PGA Tour pro had everything to his comfort.

“I came along at the right time for him and he came along at the right time for me,” Nicklaus recalled. Grout also taught the likes of Raymond Floyd and Ben Crenshaw. Scheffler will be hoping that Smith’s influence on his golf stays on well into his prime, similar to Grout and Nicklaus.

Do you think Chamblee is right in comparing Scheffler to the great Jack Nicklaus? Is that the ceiling for the Texan golfer?