ON RANDY SMITH Few coaches have worked with players from el- ementary school through winning major champi- onships. Randy Smith has done it twice – first with Justin Leonard and now as Scottie Scheffler’s coach of more than 20 years. They started together when Scheffler’s parents moved to Dallas and joined Roy- al Oaks Country Club, Smith’s home base since 1977. The precocious 6-year-old arrived to the Royal Oaks range in 2002 and grew in what was an almost per- fect setting for a student with an insatiable appetite for improvement and competition. Here Smith, a Golf Digest Teaching Professional for more than 25 years and a member of the inaugural class of our Legends of Golf Instruction, as well as the winner of more national awards from the PGA of America than anyone in history – 18 and counting – tells the story from his front-row seat, with exclusive images from his personal archive. – MATTHEW RUDY
74 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
JULY/AUGUST 2024
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