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Graham, here we are at the first Rolex Series event of the year on the DP World Tour, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, how special is this week?
It’s a lovely week. The facilities are great and you’re made to feel welcome around the place as well. I think that, for a coach, that’s good. We’re not on the periphery, you’re made welcome. When you look at the whole set-up, it’s a really, really good tournament.
I’ve got a lot of players to work with this week. It’s the first week that they’re all out together, as they’re normally playing a few different schedules. So, I’ve got Tommy Fleetwood, Nicolai Højgaard, Paul Waring, Joe Dean, Sam Bairstow and Richie Ramsay.
Nicolai Hojgaard
Some players I work with have come through the ranks and I’ve been working with them for a number of years, like Joe Dean. With Tommy, I’ve now been working with him for 10 years. Nicolai, we’ve just been together a little while, and Paul Waring I’ve taught for over 20 years now.
I would say a lot of my work is in the development of players. I’m really trying to bring players through and develop their games so they can go and play anywhere in the world, and they don’t always need me talking to them. They can take their golf anywhere.
They don’t all do everything exactly the same, and neither should they, because they’re all different people.
That must mean you have to be adaptable as a coach?
I always carry my little blue book with me, and you’ll see there are loads of notes and bits of paper and things in there.
So I’ll often take notes on their tendencies, what they like and what they dislike.
And then the shots for the golf course. Making sure they’re aware of the shots the course demands, and that they practise them when they do their pre-round work as well.
Paul Waring – 2024 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship – Getty Images
Sometimes it’s about dealing and development. You’re dealing with what you’ve got to deal with, technically, this week, and also what you can develop for the future.
So it’s really trying to get their heads around what they’re dealing with now, and what they can develop for the future as well.
Is there something specific that they all have to do this week for the Majlis course?
This course is in lovely condition. The greens are great this week as well. Around the greens is fair. There’s some rough, but it’s pretty good. The bunkers are in good shape. So really, if they bring their game to the course, they should be able to score.
You’ve got to make sure, when you’re in the rough around the green, that you keep the loft on it and give it enough speed going through the rough. Because if you don’t, it will often snag. A lot of the younger players don’t always like using the square face or a less lofted club.
They’ll often use a little bit more loft and even open the face slightly so they feel they can hit the ball a little firmer, a little quicker, to bring it out of the rough, which for some players is a very, very good thing.
Tommy Fleetwood 2025 FedEx Cup Champion PGA Tour
How impressive is that journey you’ve been on with Tommy?
The story from 10 years ago, when he first came to see me, is that he had half a set of clubs, like his wedges and a few irons. He came over on the train and I picked him up from Howden Station in my daughter’s car for a lesson. That’s where our relationship started.
Now, today’s Tommy Fleetwood can’t come on a train to The Oaks Golf Club to have a lesson!
One thing I’d often say about Tommy is that he’s a very patient learner. Even a number of years ago, before he had all the success he has now, he was patient and respectful of the advice you gave him, and he gave you the time to do your job.
He would then pay for you to go and watch him play golf, which not very many people do these days. So I managed to get a very good look at his game.
I gave him a patient approach, a development approach, something that had longevity to it, and that was a good start for us.
With all your experience, are you still learning yourself?
I learn every day. I write my notes just about every day, and I love learning. You might have things through the day that you’ve said in a different way.
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