Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Criticism of Tiger baffles coach

BRIAN HILDERBRAND is a Las Vegas Sun sportswriter. His golf column appears Tuesdays. He can be reached on the Internet at [email protected]

The criticism of his most famous pupil baffles golf's premier teaching professional, Butch Harmon.

Although Tiger Woods leads the PGA Tour in scoring average and is among the top 10 in five other categories -- including earnings -- the 22-year-old Woods has been the subject of more than a few scathing articles because he has won "only" once in 17 starts this season.

"To me, it's absolutely ridiculous," Harmon said of the criticism.

"If you look at what he has done all year, he's leading the tour in the lowest scoring average, he has won over $1,500,000, he has played better this year than he has ever played in his life, he has matured tremendously as a young man and I think he has just done great."

Harmon said Woods has fallen victim to the media's unrealistic expectations following his first full year as a professional in which he won six tournaments -- including the 1997 Masters by a whopping 12 shots -- and nearly $2 million in earnings.

"People's expectations are so high because he played so good at the start of his professional career, they just figured he was going to win every tournament he played in, which is impossible," Harmon said.

Late last year, Harmon moved to Las Vegas and relocated his successful Butch Harmon School of Golf to the Rio Secco Golf Club. He continues to tutor such golf professionals as Woods, Mark Calcavecchia, Davis Love III and LPGA Tour regular Stefania Croce.

After some initial uneasiness about moving his base to Las Vegas, Harmon said the shift has been productive.

"It has worked out really good," Harmon said between appearances Sunday at the PGA International Golf Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center. "I really, really enjoy living in Las Vegas.

"I really wasn't sure how I would adapt to it or how it would be for me (but) I have really enjoyed it. It's a great city and the airport is so convenient with all the travel I do. I've really enjoyed being here."

And he said he has had little trouble getting his star clients to come to Las Vegas for a quick tune-up.

"Everyone loves coming to Las Vegas, whether it be the tour pros I teach or the students we have in our golf schools," he said. "That was one of the reasons I chose the Rio Hotel and Casino because I think they're the finest hotel in Las Vegas and Las Vegas itself is a destination that everybody wants to come to, because it's such a fun city.

"It was a perfect matchup for a first-class golf school and a great city."

In addition to representing Nike, Cobra Golf and MedX fitness equipment, Harmon is the author of several golf instruction books and video tapes. Juggling his myriad business interests and honing the games of some of the world's top players has had only one negative effect on the son of 1948 Masters champion Claude Harmon.

"It seems like everyone (I instruct) is playing well," Harmon said. "The only one suffering is me; my game isn't too sharp because I don't get a chance to play."

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* MARATHON GOLF: The Boulder Dam Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America still is looking for golfers to participate in its Marathon Golf fund-raiser on Sept. 2 at the Las Vegas Paiute Resort. A team of 35-40 golfers will tee off at sunrise and play as many holes as possible before sundown to raise money for local scouting activities. To become a player or to help sponsor the event, call the Boy Scouts at 736-4366.

* AROUND THE GREEN: The Las Vegas Sons of Erin will hold their Halfway to St. Patrick's Day golf tournament on Saturday, Oct. 10 at Highland Falls Golf Club. The $80 entry fee includes golf and a buffet dinner. Call 243-6985 or 458-5715 for more information. ... Amateur golfers of all playing abilities are invited to compete in the Northwest Dodge Dealers Pacific Amateur Golf Classic Sept. 27-Oct. 1 on five Central Oregon courses. The full-handicap competition will include play in four divisions: Men, Women, Men's Senior (ages 55 and older) and Men's Super Senior (65 and older). The entry fee of $375 includes three days of golf. Additional information and registration forms can be obtained by calling 1-800-800-8334 or accessing the tournament's web site at www.pacamgolf.com.

* UPCOMING EVENTS: Most of the PGA Tour players will be spread out across the continent this week. Those who have qualified for the NEC World Series of Golf (PGA Tour and international tour winners) will be in Akron, Ohio, this week for the $2,250,000 tournament at Firestone Country Club. Greg Norman won last year's tournament but will not defend his title as he continues to recover from arm surgery. The USA cable network and CBS will televise. Those tour players who did not qualify for the World Series of Golf will be in Canada for the Greater Vancouver Open at Northview Golf and Country Club. Mark Calcavecchia won last year's tournament. ... The Senior PGA Tour is in Concord, Mass., for the BankBoston Classic at Nashawtuc Country Club. Hale Irwin is the defending champion. ESPN will televise. ... The LPGA Tour is in Springfield, Ill., for the State Farm Rail Classic at The Rail Golf Club. Cindy Figg-Currier won last last year's tournament. ESPN2 will televise.

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