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 July 16, 2008--Butch Harmon has lived in Las Vegas for just over a decade, and in that time has made an indelible impression in his new hometown. In addition to operating the Butch Harmon School of Golf at Las Vegas golf course Rio Secco Golf Club (pictured)--where many of the world's best golfers come to fine tune their swings--Harmon has gotten out into the Las Vegas golf community and helped where he can. He has a tournament series on the Southern Nevada Junior Golf Tour--operated by The First Tee of Southern Nevada--named for him; he's teamed with Greg Maddux to co-host a Las Vegas golf event that is closing in on raising a million dollars for charity; he's created the Butch Harmon Vegas Tour that offers aspiring pros a chance to earn a living; he's a member of the Las Vegas PGA Tour event executive board; and he's a member of the Southern Nevada Golf Hall of Fame. So, with that resume, it's no surprise that he is taking the high road in the saga of John Daly, who is again ripping Harmon for calling him out about his personal issues. We'll take Harmon's word over Daly's. Harmon and Daly are at Royal Birkdale this week for the playing of the British Open.
In a report at ESPN.com, Daly is quoted as saying that Harmon has "lied" about events that took place at a Florida PGA Tour event in March, where an incident in a hospitality tent led to the longtime instructor dumping the two-time major champion. Daly also went on to say that Harmon's comments have led to him not securing sponsor exemptions into PGA Tour events. Harmon has operated his school at Rio Secco Golf Club ever since he moved to Las Vegas. Rio Secco Golf Club is a Rees Jones design and is the sister course to Las Vegas golf course Cascata, also a Rees Jones design. Both are operated by Harrah's Golf and open for resort, public play. Click now to make your Las Vegas golf tee times at Cascata or Rio Secco. Harmon, who started working with Daly at the start of this year, ended the relationship when he decided Daly thought partying was more important than working on his game. Daly had previously made similar comments about Harmon to which Harmon stood steadfast by his original decision and quotes. And following this new round of comments from Daly, Harmon's opinion has only gotten stronger about the former British Open champion.  ESPN writer Bob Harig quoted Harmon, who is working with several golfers at the Open including Ernie Els, Adam Scott, Phil Mickelson and Stewart Cink, as saying the comments were "sad".
"To me it's just sad," said Harmon from Royal Birkdale. "That he would go down that road and make those statements again -- it's just sad. ... I've told him all it takes is for him to get his head together, stand up and acknowledge his problems. I've been down that road, but he never wants to look in the mirror.'' So far this year Harmon has helped guide Mickelson to number two in the world, and continues to work with Scott, the former UNLV golfer, who is ranked as the world's number three player. Mickelson has two wins and five top 10 finishes thus far in 2008, while Scott has one win and three top 10 finishes, despite battling a hand injury. For his part, Daly has made three of 12 cuts on the PGA Tour this year, with his best finish being a tie for 75th. He hasn't made a cut since he and Harmon parted ways.
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