Dustin Johnson’s inner circle got smaller recently as Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis reported that he and longtime swing coach Claude Harmon III have decided to mutually split.
Lewis reported that Harmon III was caught off guard when Johnson was at the RBC Heritage and PGA Championship working on his swing with Allen Terrell, Johnson’s college coach and the director of coaching at the Dustin Johnson Golf School in South Carolina.
After reaching out to Johnson about his work with Terrell and receiving no response, Harmon III informed Johnson that he thought it would be best if the two stopped working together.
“I have great respect for Claude, both as an instructor and friend, and appreciate all he has done to further my career,” Johnson said in a statement released by his representatives. “He has undoubtedly helped me reach many of my goals.”
Despite 'great respect,' DJ splits with longtime swing coach Claude Harmon Swing coach Claude Harmon III has split with world No. 2 Dustin Johnson, #Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis reported on Sunday at the Memorial. https://t.co/HDL33sSs1Y #golfnews #pgatour #sports pic.twitter.com/eLX9e0vUcj
— GolfHub24 (@GolfHub24) June 3, 2019
Johnson said in the statement that he would continue to work with Claude’s father, Butch, via video and in-person lessons in Las Vegas, but DJ and Claude “mutually decided it would be best if (Claude) focused his efforts elsewhere,” according to the statement.
Johnson has put together a solid season to this point having finished inside the top-10 in seven of his 11 starts. After winning the WGC-Mexico Championship in February, he came in second at both the Masters and the PGA Championship.
Johnson is in the field at this week’s RBC Canadian Open where he will defend his 2018 title, and he will look to win his second major title next week at the U.S. Open.
