Jim McLean

Jim McLean is one of the most respected teaching professionals in golf, an All-American golfer at the University of Houston (BS in Economics) who went on to earn a spot among the top three ranked instructors in America for 25 consecutive years and currently ranks #1 in Florida. He has coached a long list of major champions — including Cristie Kerr, Gary Woodland, Curtis Strange, Keegan Bradley, and Lexi Thompson — and guided eight juniors to #1 national rankings. His instructional writing has shaped the sport as much as his coaching: The Eight-Step Swing was named one of Sports Illustrated's top golf books of the 20th century, and he's authored several other landmark titles, including The X-Factor and The Complete Hogan. McLean runs the Jim McLean Golf School out of a flagship Biltmore location in Florida, with additional academies in Utah, Mexico, Spain, and South Korea. In 2025 he was inducted into the PGA of America Hall of Fame, one of several Hall of Fame honors recognizing his decades of contribution to the game.