Swing Coach
Agent/Manager
Mental/Performance Coach
Physio/Chiropractor
Brian Smith
Swing Coach
Swing Coach
Mike Bender Growing up in Waterloo, Iowa, Mike Bender was an inveterate tinkerer. He would dismantle, then reassemble, radios, televisions, bicycles and anything else that could be taken apart and put back together. It was this razor sharp mechanical aptitude, an eye for detail and a passion for golf that have combined to allow this Midwestern native to become one of the top golf instructors in the world.
Today, Bender can efficiently assemble a better golf swing for any golfer from rank beginners to the game’s top touring professionals. This extraordinary knowledge combined with his ability to explain the necessary fundamentals in a clear and concise manner is why he is the 2009 PGA of America National Teacher of the Year, ranked among the Top 10 Greatest Teachers in America by Golf Digest Magazine and, for more than a decade, has been included in GOLF Magazine’s Top 100 Teacher list.
As Bender has quickly achieved worldwide recognition among his peers, the game’s top players have sought out his advice. Zach Johnson, 2007 Masters and AT&T Classic champion, has trained with Mike since Johnson was launching his professional career on the mini-tours at the beginning of the decade. LPGA tournament winners, Seon Hwa Lee and Joo Mi Kim also have been working with Mike for years. More recently, PGA Tour veterans including Skip Kendall and two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen have put their faith in Mike. All told, Bender has helped nearly two dozen PGA, Champions and LPGA Tour professionals with their games.
Agent/Manager
Agent/Manager
Brad Buffoni
Brad Buffoni has served as Zach Johnson’s manager since 2002. This tandem has worked closely together for nearly fifteen years, during which time their relationship has evolved into a trusted and close friendship. Over the course of working together, this team has enjoyed a great deal of success with Zach winning two major championships (2007 Masters & 2015 Open Championship) as well as twelve PGA TOUR titles. In addition, during this time, Zach has represented the United States on four Ryder Cup teams and four President Cup teams.
Off the course, they have built a brand based upon core values, a win-win corporate partnership philosophy and a focus on building integrity based relationships. Together, they have formed strong and long-lasting relationships with top brands around the world that continue today with companies such as Aegon, Transamerica, PXG, Titleist, RSM, John Deere Company, Oakley, Carlson Companies/Country Inn & Suites, Net Jets and BMW to name a few.
Brad is also actively involved in Johnson’s charitable initiatives, including serving as a Board Member for the Zach Johnson Foundation. Brad also played in a key role in the formation of the foundation Birdies that Care, Johnson’s first charitable giving program formed back in Zach’s hometown of Cedar Rapids. Together these charitable entities to date have raised over $5,000,000 for those in need in the Greater Cedar Rapids area.
In addition to Zach, Brad manages other top professional golfers as well and is an executive at Wasserman a leading sports marketing and entertainment company. He has close to 20 years experience in athlete representation, and specializes in new business development as well. He resides in Wisconsin.
About Wasserman Media Group – Wasserman is one of the leading sports marketing and entertainment companies, with global expertise in Athlete Management, Consulting, Media Rights, Partnership and Business Development, and Action Sports.
Mental/Performance Coach
Mental/Performance Coach
Dr. Morris “Mo” Pickens
Dr. Morris M. Pickens received his Ph.D. in sports psychology from the University of Virginia in 1995. During this time, he studied under Dr. Bob Rotella and focused his research and consulting interests in the area of golf psychology, specifically the acquisition of putting confidence.
Dr. Pickens has provided sports psychology consulting for numerous PGA, LPGA, Nationwide, and Champions tour players and currently works with PGA TOUR professionals Lucas Glover, Jonathan Byrd, Masters Champion Zach Johnson, and British Open Champion Stewart Cink, among others. In addition to working with professional golfers, Dr. Pickens also provides performance enhancement consulting for other athletes including New England Patriot five-time Pro Bowler Richard Seymour.
Learn more about Dr. Mo at www.DrMoLearnToWin.com
Physio/Chiropractor
Physio/Chiropractor
Troy VanBiezen
Dr. Van Biezen’s extensive knowledge combined with his experience as a professional athlete provides his patients with the most comprehensive and integrative approach to evaluating, treating and rehabilitating from injuries.
Visit his website!
Brian Smith
Brian Smith
Brian Smith, known as Smitty on Tour, joined Zach’s team in March of 2020. Smitty brings 30 years of experience to the team, including 14 wins on Tour with six different players. He has also caddied in three Presidents Cups and one Ryder Cup, which he calls his favorite event to be part of over those 30 years. Brian played college golf at University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. Following graduation, he moved to Tampa, Florida to play professional golf. After a few years of chasing that dream, he backed into a short-term opportunity caddying on Tour and it turned into a full time profession. He currently resides in Tampa and is a huge Tampa Bay sports fan.
