Legendary short-game instructor Dave Pelz dies at 85

UNITED STATES - MARCH 19: Phil Mickelson works with short-game coach Dave Pelz during an early practice round on the stadium course Saturday, in preparation for the 2005 THE PLAYERS Championship at the TPC at Sawgrass. March 19, 2005 (Photo by Chris Condon/PGA) US PGA TOUR

Dave Pelz, a nuclear physicist who became one of golf’s most noted short-game instructors, died Sunday in his Texas home following complications from prostate cancer. He was 85.

Pelz, born October 8, 1939, left NASA in 1974 to focus on the the science of putting, and created a data-driven approach to teaching the short game. He established different techniques and training aids, and his methods were showcased on “The Dave…