He is practicing on course as well, not just the range. Part of starting from the hole backwards and not bringing a driver to the course is teaching him course management.
This argument doesn't make much sense to me, though. Why do you feel that the mental side of the game can't be taught or you can't practice getting better at strengthening that part of your game? Simply recognizing that there is a mental side to the game (like every sport) means that you can to try and control it and thereby practice managing it. This can be learned, every athlete learns it for every sport they play. The mental component is a large part to every sport. I have played several sports competitively and I can't think of a single sport that it isn't a component. One major failure caused me to be mentally timid in one sport I competed at a very high level in - could I have progressed past it? Yes, and I did at times but it still required work. But I could get passed it and perform.
For anyone with both passion and time I am sure they can achieve expert status. People are adaptable, if they really want to do it and have the time to spend they will do what it takes to succeed. That includes finding their own way to cope with the mental pressures.
He has a lot of time left and nothing I've seen seems to indicate he couldn't get it done - minus the one thing I'm still unclear on, if he truly has a passion for the game.
Just watched a few of the videos and I think I've been able to answer my own question. He doesn't have a real passion for the game as he states in one of his videos. For that reason I don't think he will, or can become elite (on Tour) but I don't doubt that he can still get to expert level after a few more years of dedicated practice.
I think that passion part is key to becoming truly great. The passion drives the desire to practice, and practice well with large gains. During his time Hogan was known for practicing more than any other golfer, when he began to do really well on tour the other golfers started joining him so they could keep up. When asked how he was able to work so hard and practice so much he replied that he hard a hard time getting to sleep because he couldn't wait to get to the range in the morning to practice. Hogan was and still is known as the greatest ball striker ever.
Again, I believe that Talent = Passion + Time Spent. A component of passion is dedication and perseverance which he seems to have but there's something else that really drives it. Without it I think he's limited to what he can achieve.
Perhaps it's idealistic but I don't think anyone who lacks passion can hit like Hogan no matter how much time they spend. I'm sure they can become very good, but not like Hogan.
This argument doesn't make much sense to me, though. Why do you feel that the mental side of the game can't be taught or you can't practice getting better at strengthening that part of your game? Simply recognizing that there is a mental side to the game (like every sport) means that you can to try and control it and thereby practice managing it. This can be learned, every athlete learns it for every sport they play. The mental component is a large part to every sport. I have played several sports competitively and I can't think of a single sport that it isn't a component. One major failure caused me to be mentally timid in one sport I competed at a very high level in - could I have progressed past it? Yes, and I did at times but it still required work. But I could get passed it and perform.
For anyone with both passion and time I am sure they can achieve expert status. People are adaptable, if they really want to do it and have the time to spend they will do what it takes to succeed. That includes finding their own way to cope with the mental pressures.
He has a lot of time left and nothing I've seen seems to indicate he couldn't get it done - minus the one thing I'm still unclear on, if he truly has a passion for the game.