Tiger Woods’ life in flux continued Tuesday with swing coach Hank Haney’s announcement that he no longer will work with the golf superstar.
In a statement sent to the Golf Channel, Haney said the decision was his and that he expects Woods to regain his dominance once he is “mind free and injury free.”
Haney began working with Woods in 2004 and helped him win six major championships, including two each in 2005 and 2006.
Haney succeeded Butch Harmon, who guided Woods trough the best stretch of his career, winning seven of 11 majors, beginning with the 1999 PGA at Medinah and ending with the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage.
Given their acrimonious split (Harmon was fired for loose lips) and the fact that Harmon now works with Woods’ main rival Phil Mickelson, it’s unlikely Woods would reunite with his former coach.
Florida-based David Leadbetter, who has helped Michelle Wie regain some lost luster, is a possibility. The coaches of two of Woods’ closest golfing buddies, Todd Anderson (Mark O’Meara) and Mike Abbott (Pat Perez) are also solid bets.
If Woods is seeking a low-profile coach, Canadian Sean Foley, the hottest new name in teaching circles, could be the answer. In addition to working with Hunter Mahan and Justin Rose, Foley coaches Woods’ close friend Sean O’Hair. At the Players Championship, Woods played a practice round with O’Hair and Mahan and under the watchful eye of Foley.
Here’s Haney’s statement (from his website)
“I would like to thank Tiger for the opportunity that I have had to work with him over the past 6 plus years. Tiger Woods has done the work to achieve a level of greatness that I believe the game of golf has never seen before and I will always appreciate the opportunity that I have had to contribute to his successes. I have also enjoyed the association that I have had with Tiger both on and off the golf course as I have had some incredible experiences. In coaching and teaching Tiger I have also learned a lot, not only about golf, but about people and life in general. It has been a great learning experience and along the way Tiger has elevated me in my own profession to a level that I never thought I would achieve before I had the opportunity to work with him.
“In many ways because of all of the time that I have spent with Tiger, I may have learned more from him than he has ever learned from me. So I believe at this time that it is in both of our best interests for me to step aside as Tiger’s coach.
“I will always look back upon our past half dozen years together as my best days in professional golf. It would be a dream of any coach to have a student like Tiger Woods and for me it was a dream come true. Just so there is no confusion I would like to make it clear that this is my decision. Tiger Woods and I will always be friends, but I believe that there is a time and place for everything and I feel at this time and at this place in my life I want to move forward in other areas.
“Tiger has been just an incredible performer in golf and he has achieved great success throughout his career. First with his father Earl, and then with Butch Harmon as his coach, followed by me, I know Tiger Woods will be successful in the future no matter who helps him. He is an incredible athlete with an incredible work ethic. As we all know, Tiger has been through a lot in the last six months, and I really believe that given the chance, mind free and injury free, we will all see Tiger Woods play once again like we all know he can.
“I wish Tiger well, not only with his golf, but in finding peace and happiness in all aspects of his life. Tiger knows that if he ever needs me in anyway, whether it be with his golf or just as a friend he can always call. I will always, as I have been in the past, be there for him. From a personal standpoint, I look forward to being able to make many more contributions to the great game of golf in the days and years ahead.”
