Phil Mickelson leads tributes to former coach Dave Pelz

Phil Mickelson has led tributes pouring in for Dave Pelz, who has died at the age of 85.

The renowned coach, who helped several major champions, passed away at his home in Dripping Springs, Texas, on Sunday.

“Please join the Pelz Golf Team in a Tribute to our inspiration, founder, and coach Dave Pelz who died Sunday at 85 years old,” read a post from his account on social media.

“Dave changed the game of golf forever and will be deeply missed.”

Pelz began his career as a NASA scientist before entering the world of golf, becoming a researcher, coach and author.

His short game work helped Mickelson immensely, while he also worked with the likes of Tom Kite, Vijay Singh, Payne Stewart and Patrick Reed.

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Mickelson hailed his impact on social media this afternoon.

“I have so many things to say about this incredible man,” he wrote. “I owe so much of my success to the many things he taught me, and he lives on as I share those same insights to numerous other golfers.

“The laughs we shared along the way is what I cherish most, and I look forward to paying tribute to this great man with “Pelz stories” in the near future.

“Rest in peace my friend.”

Born in Indiana and raised in Kentucky, Pelz took up golf at a young age and enrolled on a four-year golf scholarship at Indiana University.

Years later, his research shed light on the importance of short game and looked to both transform the mindset and careers of some of golf’s biggest names.

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He also developed the Dave Pelz Putting Tutor, a vital tool for players aiming to improve their alignment and roll, as well as the “3X4 Wedge System,” allowing golfers to better control the distance and accuracy of their wedges.

Dubbed ‘professor putt’, he was among those who helped Mickelson on his run of form between 2004 and 2007 that included two Masters wins, a PGA Championship and a PLAYERS Championship.

Shaun Micheel, who won the 2003 PGA Championship wrote on X: “Very sorry to be reading of Dave’s passing. He played for Bob Fitch, my coach for two years, and his many gifts to golf are well documented. My condolences to the Pelz family!”