Tiger Quells Haney Split Speculation

Tiger Woods has moved to dismiss rumours that he may be ready to split from his association with golf coach, Hank Haney.

Rumours of a rift between Woods and Haney emerged following the World number one’s comments in the aftermath of his closing 68, where he described his swing as having a ‘Band-Aid’ around it. Haney, who has been Woods’ coach since 2002, had been dogged by rumours since 2007 about a potential split away from Woods, but the verbal volley he received at the Masters seemed to have had considerable fuel to the fire.

However, on the eve of the Quail Hollow Championship, where Tiger heads a field which includes US Masters champion, Angel Cabrera, Woods has downplayed talk of any split and that he had simply been letting off steam following the tongue-lashing he gave Haney in the wake of Woods’ third round at Augusta, where the pair clashed on the practice ground moments after Woods had birdied the eighteenth.

When asked about the rumour, Woods responded: “That’s complete speculation … It has nothing to do with Henry. I didn’t hit the ball the way I wanted to, and I didn’t make any putts.

“I felt like that every day. It was 17 and 18 that hurt. I didn’t finish off my rounds the last couple of days, and it cost me a chance to win the golf tournament.”

“Usually, you just leave me alone, let me vent for a while and then I’ll be ready to focus on what I need to do to get ready for the next day. It’s happened before. He (Haney) has seen it before. Stevie has seen it. You’ve got to vent.”

Its believed Haney will not be in attendance at the Quail Hollow Championship, which starts Thursday, but was at Woods’ side last weekend in Florida working on Woods’ game.

Also among the field at Charlotte, North Carolina are world number two, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia of Spain and Australian Geoff Ogilvy. Irishman Padraig Harrington is also entered for the tournament while American Anthony Kim seeks to retain his crown; his winning total last year set a tournament record 16-under-par 272.