CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 14: Scottie Scheffler of the United States works with putting coach ... More Phil Kenyon in the practice area prior to the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 14, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) Getty Images Even the best in the world need coaching. To some, that might seem counterintuitive. After all, when you’re on top—when you’re winning championships, closing deals, or setting the pace for your industry—why bring someone else in? But that’s exactly what the world’s best do. They never stop learning, never stop improving—and they’re humble enough to know they can’t do it alone. Just ask Scottie Scheffler. Coming off a blistering run in 2022 and 2023—crowned the world’s No. 1 golfer, earning PGA Tour Player of the Year, and capturing six titles including the Masters and the Players Championship—Scheffler could’ve easily settled into comfort. He was, by every metric, dominant. But Scheffler saw a gap in his game: putting. And instead of ignoring it or trying to brute-force his way through it, he brought in help. Not just anyone—Phil Kenyon, widely recognized as one of the sharpest putting minds in the sport. That decision didn’t just fine-tune Scheffler’s performance. It transformed it. “I was arguably working too hard on my putting,” Scheffler admitted. “Putting too much pressure on myself to be perfect… and that made me more excited to fix it.” That’s what elite performers do. They turn frustration into fuel. Less than two years later, golf insiders are saying Scheffler is now one of the best putters on tour. Certainly, his résumé since partnering with Kenyon tells the story: 10 more wins, including another Masters, another Players Championship, the Tour Championship, the PGA Championship, and a gold medal in the Paris Olympics. MORE FOR YOU That’s what happens when you combine world-class talent with world-class coaching. “Scottie has a natural intuition,” Kenyon said. “We just helped him access it more effectively.” Scheffler didn’t lose his edge—he sharpened it by inviting in a coach who could help him grow in an area he knew needed improvement. He didn’t bring in a new coach because he was failing. Scheffler turned to Kenyon because he wasn’t satisfied with being great when he could be greater. Viktor Hovland has also benefited from having a new coach. After becoming the first Norwegian player to win on the PGA Tour and capturing the FedEx Cup in 2023, Hovland seemed poised to break into the top echelon of golfers. But a winless 2024 season forced a moment of clarity and he brought in a new swing coach. PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 16: Viktor Hovland of Norway reacts on the 14th hole during the ... More third round of THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass on March 16, 2024 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) Getty Images “I’ve been seeing better results in practice,” Hovland said in March. “That’s promising, because if I can’t hit the shots in practice, there’s no point in playing tournaments.” Later that month, Hovland overcame a three stoke deficit in the final holes of the Valspar Championship to beat Justin Thomas. It was a return to form for Hovland, and his first win in over a year. That’s the power of coaching—especially when the pressure is mounting and expectations are high. The business world often celebrates individual genius, lone-wolf innovation, and self-made grit. But the best leaders know better. Coaching isn’t about weakness. It’s about refinement. It’s about amplifying strengths. Mark Moses, the founder of CEO Coaching International, recently offered some insights into how to get results from coaching, including making sure everyone buys into it. “Agreement is optional, commitment is not,” Moses said. “Ultimately, we all have to be committed to it in order to achieve the outcome.” The smartest companies are already moving away from traditional performance improvement plans and toward embedded coaching cultures. CEO Coaching International has more than 1,200 clients in 75 countries across the globe. Why? Because they’ve learned what Scottie Scheffler has: even your A-players have room to grow—and the best of your best want to grow. NASSAU, BAHAMAS - NOVEMBER 29: Scottie Scheffler of The United States lines up a putt watched by ... More putting coach Phil Kenyon during the pro-am as a preview for the Hero World Challenge at Albany Golf Course on November 29, 2023 in Nassau, . (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images) Getty Images Here’s the truth every leader should carry with them: If your best people aren’t being coached, they’re either plateauing or preparing to leave. Just like on the golf course, it’s not about correcting flaws—it’s about helping greatness evolve. Scheffler didn’t reinvent himself. He refined what was already extraordinary. He leaned into his humility, putting ego aside and bringing in someone who could make him sharper. That’s a leadership blueprint and not just a sports story. The world’s best are always learning. Are you? Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions