Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson has said he owes “so much of my success” to Dave Pelz following the death of the renowned short-game coach at the age of 85.
Pelz, who died at his home in Texas on Sunday, began his career as a scientist with NASA before becoming a golf researcher and was one of the first to analyse the importance of the short game, uncovering that almost 80 per cent of shots lost to par took place within 100 yards of the hole.
He developed more than 40 different training aids and worked with numerous top players on their short game, including major winners Mickelson, Tom Kite, Lee Janzen, Steve Elkington, Vijay Singh, Payne Stewart, Mike Weir and Patrick Reed.
“I have so many things to say about this incredible man,” Mickelson wrote on social media site X.
“I owe so much of my success to the many things he taught me and he lives on as I share those same insights to numerous other golfers.
“The laughs we shared along the way is what I cherish most and I look forward to paying tribute to this great man with “Pelz stories” in the near future. Rest in peace my friend.”
Former Masters champion Reed told SI.com: “I was saddened to hear about the passing of my friend, Dave Pelz.
“Dave made an indelible mark on the game of golf. He was an incredibly kind and gentle man with a generous spirit.
“The way he used his scientific brilliance to influence what the rest of us could accomplish through the game of golf will always be remembered.”
