[Yoda]

Sounds like Redman helped to UNLOCK Azingers talent...a fine hitter at that.

DG

That's right, DG. The teacher is not God and thus cannot inject talent where there is none. But, he is able to help his student make the most of what is there, and that is an important contribution. Here's Paul Azinger's comment on the subject:

"Sure, I had some some God-given talent and I practiced hard, hitting hundreds of balls ever day, but John gave me excellent instruction. He recognized that my swing was too long and 'flippy' at the top. So the first thing we worked on was shortening my swing. Then he taught me how to use my legs and hips and how to turn level both back and through. That's a big part of his teaching. He also taught me to keep my hands and arms relaxed and to feel the weight of the club head on the end of the shaft.

John made a lot of changes to my swing, but the one thing he didn't change was my grip. I play with what many people call a strong grip. With most teachers, it wouldn't have lasted long. But, fortunately, John had the insight not to change it. He said that grip was natural for me, and that's how he wanted me to hold the club.

It's one thing to take an excellent golfer, make some adjustment to his stance, his ball position or some such, and marginally improve his play for a few weeeks. There are a lot of teachers who can do that. There aren't many, however, who can take someone as mediocre as I was and in three years have him playing the Tour. But that's exactly what John Redman did."

There are few relationships as complex -- or as fragile -- as that of player and coach. Since the teacher is not the performer, it is easy to limit his contribution to "informs and explains". But there is much more:

He listens.

He advises.

He encourages.

He inspires.

And, most of all . . .

He believes in advance.