Hank Haney, Tiger Woods’ former coach in his years of dominance and peak performance, brings a unique perspective to Tiger’s latest comeback.
Haney and Woods separated in 2010 and since writing “The Big Miss”, he has been persona non-grata to the Tiger camp. It doesn’t necessarily mean that he has lost his ability to see Tiger’s swing. It may even be the reason he’s so honest about Tiger. Others might say his views are sour, but I like his candor. Haney did not answer or return any calls on Sunday, after Tiger completed 72 holes at the Bahamas. This was his first round of competitive golf since the Masters back in April. Haney reviewed Tiger’s performance on his podcast this week, noting the swing looked great to him. He was also impressed by his length off of the tee. And he noted that Tiger didn’t look “in excruciating pain” like he did last year.
Haney is not rushing to award Tiger his 16 th after he placed 18 th among 20 players at the Hero World Challenge. Haney stated that, when he worked with Tiger, Albany was a par 67, not a 72, as it appears on Tiger’s scorecard. Tiger shot an even-par 288 and finished 20 strokes back of winner Scottie Schiffer.
Hank Haney began working with Tiger Woods as early as March 2004.
Haney stated on The Hank Haney podcast that “back in the old days, although I know that it’s been a while, I would have already penciled in a win if Tiger Woods had signed up for a tournament with five par 5s.” He said that if he had taken care of his par 5s as he was supposed to have, a win would’ve probably been double digits. This would have lost by 10 points. I understand he hasn’t played and he’s rusty and everything else everyone wants to say, but back in the day I could’ve shoulda-coulda-woulda for every tournament Tiger ever played and he would’ve won.
“When you lose by 20, there’s no shoulda-coulda-woulda. You’re so far – five shots per round is how far you are out of contention.”
Haney was curious about how much Tiger could practice and if it would be enough to make him competitive with such a restricted schedule.
Haney stated, “He has to get some semblance to a game. No matter how much the player wants to tell us he is able to hit all shots and can do everything, we have to see it. That’s what’s missing.” “Can you climb a mountain by playing once a week? If you are Tiger, can you practice enough to climb the mountain again? He has the advantage that if he climbs a little up the hill, he will soon be able to fly up it because his brain is full of knowledge that tells what to do. It’s only a matter of whether he can get momentum up the mountain.
Tiger Woods said that he was happy to have completed a tournament and, despite his soreness, he said he had recovered better than expected. After a seven-month break and another surgery on his ankle’s subtalar, he was pleased with the way his body had responded.
Haney rhetorically asked, “How long will it be before he considers that a successful achievement if he is not competitive?” “The answer is, who knows? We’ll see.”
