Putting coach to some of the world’s top golfers, Phil Kenyon (PGA of Great Britain & Ireland), has become the latest winner of the prestigious John Jacobs Award for Teaching & Coaching.
Kenyon was nominated by the PGA in England and Wales’ North Region committee and selected by the awards panel in recognition of his continued success working with some of the greatest golfers of our time, such as Rory McIlroy, Francesco Molinari, Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose, Thomas Björn, and Louis Oosthuizen to name just a few.
“It is obviously a great honour – John Jacobs is a pioneer of golf coaching so to be even just associated with John is fantastic,” said Kenyon during his acceptance speech shown at the 2018 Annual Congress Gala Awards Dinner Supported By Rolex at Costa Navarino in Greece.
“In particular it is a great honour for me as well because Harold Swash who has been my mentor was really good friends with John, I know they had a great relationship, so I would like to dedicate this award to Harold really.”
The John Jacobs Award is the Confederation of Professional Golf’s highest coaching accolade and is presented to a PGA Professional who has excelled as a golf coach at all levels of the game, be it with elite or beginner players alike across a number of years.
Previous winners of the award have included Shane Lowry’s coach, Neil Manchip, along with Michael Bannon, coach of Rory McIlroy, Salvador Luna, coach of Sergio Garcia, coach to seven of the 2016 Ryder Cup Europe Team, Mike Walker, and last year’s winner and coach to the likes of Andy Sullivan and Brandon Stone, Jamie Gough.
“Jamie Gough and Mike Walker are really good friends of mine, I know them both from my travels on tour, added Kenyon. “Jamie is one of the hardest workers out there and he’s had great success with his students. Mike is a great coach and a really good friend of mine as we often share hotels or travel together so to follow in their footsteps is great for me.”
Having been introduced to the game by his parents and playing at a high amateur level, Kenyon concentrated on his academic studies before turning professional, completing an undergraduate degree in psychology and sports science and a Masters degree in sport science at Liverpool John Moores University.
After competing worldwide as a tournament professional on developmental tours, he decided to go into coaching and began his PGA of Great Britain & Ireland training. Having known and worked with the legendary putting expert, Harold Swash, for a number of years, Kenyon was able to absorb much of his knowledge, shadowing him in his work with many of the top players of that time, enabling up close and personal experience of dealing with top level players in that side of coaching.
Since Swash’s passing Kenyon has taken on the Swash Putting business and works out of the Putting Solutions studio at Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa in the north of England, as well as at sites in Lancashire, England, and Georgia, USA.
His continually evolving client list now reads as a who’s who of the golf world, with numerous major winners, Ryder Cup players, European and Challenge Tour winners, Race to Dubai champions, as well as English, Scottish, and Spanish national squads, all of which has contributed to his recent acknowledgement as a Master Professional by the PGA of GB&I.
Notably he has worked for a number of years with 2018 Open Champion, Race to Dubai champion, and European Tour Player of the Year, Francesco Molinari, as well as the other half of ‘Moliwood’ and another European Tour Race to Dubai Champion, Tommy Fleetwood.
“There’s many things that I’ve enjoyed, and got a lot of satisfaction from, in my career,” added Kenyon. “Being involved with guys that have won majors – Darren Clarke, Henrik Stenson, Francesco Molinari – have been great experiences. I’ve really enjoyed the Ryder Cups that I have been involved with as well.
“But I just enjoy working in golf, and week to week there are highlights for me. Helping players have good tournaments or keeping their tour card, or simply helping aspiring amateurs knock shots off their handicaps – I enjoy it all really and I am very lucky in that respect.”
For More Information On All of 2018’s Award Winners Visit http://eur.pe/2018AnnualCongress
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For more information on the 2018 Annual Award Winners visit Annual Congress Hub Page (http://eur.pe/2018AnnualCongress),follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter and search the hashtag ‘#AnnualCongress’ or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.
The Annual Congress Gala Awards are partnered by Rolex, Costa Navarino, the Ryder Cup European Development Trust, and Aegean Airlines.
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