If you don’t know the name Phil Kenyon: you probably should.
Phil Kenyon, The “Pep Guardiola of Putting,” is a golf coach to the stars whose career has spanned over two decades and contributed to over 70 tournament victories on both sides of the Atlantic.
"The key at Augusta is you've got to be very adaptable because of those changes in green speed from day to day."
His expertise has shaped the careers of numerous PGA Tour and European Tour champions, including Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, 2025 Masters Sleepers pick Justin Rose, Francesco Molinari, Henrik Stenson and Tommy Fleetwood, cementing Kenyon’s status as an indispensable asset to the world’s top golfers.
With the Masters looming, Phil Kenyon’s insights into Augusta National’s treacherous greens offer a compelling glimpse into the challenges and strategies that define this iconic tournament.
Kenyon’s insights into the Masters’ greens could be invaluable. He emphasized the unique challenges they present, noting that while modern agronomy has reduced the severity of some difficulties, Augusta’s greens remain a distinct test.
“The challenge of the Masters might not be so severe as it was years ago, but the challenge is unique.”
Among the many challenges Augusta presents, Kenyon highlighted the steeper average pin positions, around 2.5% gradient compared to the PGA Tour’s 1.5%, and the rapid fluctuations in green speed due to the sub-earth system. “The key at Augusta is you’ve got to be very adaptable because of those changes in green speed from day to day.”
Kenyon highlighted the importance of ‘feel’ and adaptability.
While modern green reading systems like AimPoint have their place, he observes that players like Matt Fitzpatrick rely heavily on intuition. “Matt is very analytical in many aspects of his game, but he also plays golf with a lot of feel, as does Justin Rose.”
He also made it clear that great putting alone won’t win the Masters. “Augusta challenges all parts of your game,” he said, but the mental aspect of putting is also paramount. “It is probably one of the most mental parts of the game. It’s the last shot on every hole, the last shot of the round or the last shot of the tournament.”
When pressed to identify the most challenging hole at Augusta, Kenyon singled out the fifth green. “The fifth green is a really complex green in terms of the shapes of it. The slopes go in so many different directions and there’s so many humps and hollows.”
He predicts a high number of three-putts on this hole due to its intricate contours and tricky pin placements.
"For athletes, routines are important. But at Augusta you can’t practice in the same way that you would at home or any other event."
The Masters Committee actively works to safeguard the integrity of the tournament by limiting players’ preparation. “They seem to place more emphasis on protecting that part of the course,” Kenyon observed.
He detailed restrictions on practice tools, such as spirit levels and green speed measuring devices, and the deliberately flattened practice putting green, which bears little resemblance to the course itself.
Kenyon offered insights into his work with current PGA tour number one and current Masters odds favorite, Scottie Scheffler, emphasizing his down-to-earth nature and unwavering work ethic. “You get exactly what you see. He’s a really normal person.”
Regarding Scheffler’s recent hand injury, Kenyon noted, “It meant he was not able to hit balls or practice… But as the season is now kicking in, I’m sure he’ll be back to the level of last year.”
“He’s a very intuitive golfer. When you’re trying to improve aspects of your game, you’ve got to be very mindful of how you go about it so that you don’t interfere with how you want to play and express yourself.” Kenyon reflected on his time with Rory McIlroy. The Pep of Putting acknowledged his immense talent and the challenges McIlroy faces.
He maintained that McIlroy’s talent is undeniable and believes he will add to his major tally. “He is too good a player to not win another major and if he wins one, there’ll be another one coming around the corner pretty quickly.”
During his time working with Rory McIlroy, Phil Kenyon met and played 18 holes with President Donald Trump in Florida.
The eminent putting coach of our time described Donald Trump as “entertaining” and “…as a character, he was as you would expect.” However, his golf game is “functional” and that “his putting wasn’t pretty.”
Kenyon’s career is a testament to his profound understanding of the game’s most delicate art. His coaching has contributed to over 70 victories on both sides of the Atlantic, including multiple major championship triumphs.
Beyond his impressive roster of clients, Kenyon’s credentials speak volumes. With putting studios in both the UK and the USA, and consulting roles with leading golf companies, his influence extends far beyond the practice green.
His ability to blend technical precision with psychological acumen has earned him the moniker “The Pep Guardiola of Putting” a testament to his strategic brilliance and meticulous approach. The nickname, which surfaced around the 2018 Ryder Cup, reflects the high regard in which he is held by players and pundits alike.
As the Masters approaches, Kenyon’s insights provide a valuable perspective on the challenges that await the world’s best golfers. And at the end of it all, his prediction for the Masters is Scottie Scheffler.
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