Woods works with swing coach Sean Foley for PGA
Tiger Woods looked confident Tuesday during practice rounds at Whistling Straits golf course. Hoping to put his poor performance at last week’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational behind him, Woods is looking for a fresh start and a chance to redeem himself at this week’s PGA Championship. And he’s doing it with help of swing coach Sean Foley.
Woods has not signed Foley on as his official coach, not yet at least. When asked if the two were working together, Foley paused before responding, “I wouldn’t say that.” But Foley accompanied Woods at his request to look at his swing and offer his opinion on what Woods was doing right or wrong.
“The possibility is there,” Foley said of a future partnership between the Canadian born swing coach and Woods. “I’m just taking a look at him. The advice I would give any player is to have at least two people look at your swing.”
Woods and Foley have worked together in the past, and this was the second time in three months that Foley has accompanied Woods during his practice rounds. On both previous occasions Woods had been playing with two of Foley’s clients, Hunter Mahan and Sean O’Hair, so no one thought it to be anything unusual.
At Whistling Straits there was no doubt that Foley was working with Woods. Mahan described Foley’s relation to Woods as simply “another set of eyes right now.” At the par five fifth hole, Foley took out a camcorder to tape Woods’ swing, and later on the eighth he stood below the tee to get an angle of Woods swing from the front.
“I did ask him to film a couple I would like to take a look at – which I did look – so I’m heading in the right direction,” said Woods.
Foley is also swing coach to Canadian golfer Stephen Ames, who was also out practicing at the Straits on Tuesday. After Woods teed off on the 10th hole Foley stepped back to work with Ames. Woods didn’t stop to watch Foley’s video’s right away, he saved it for later.
While Foley was working with Ames, O’Hair stepped up to watch Woods. Last year at the Tour Championship Woods had given O’Hair a helpful putting tip, one which helped O’Hair get a first round lead after a first round of 66. Oh how the tables have turned.
Woods' last swing coach was Hank Haney, who had worked with Woods for six years but resigned from the position in May. Woods has been without a coach since, and has relied on the help of a friend to videotape his shots. Woods also employed Butch Harmon, his only other swing coach as a professional. The two worked together until 2003.
When asked if Foley would be his next swing coach Woods was vague as to whether it would be a once-in a while thing or reoccurring. “Certainly it’s a possibility, no doubt. But there’s also a lot of other coaches out there that's a possibility, as well, that I've talked to,” he said. “I wanted to have him take a look at it today on video so I can take a look at it, and that's what we did."
Woods attitude Tuesday exuded confidence, and images of a downtrodden and defeated golfer from last week were completely swept away. That’s the beauty of tournament play; every week brings a new opportunity to start over again.
Amongst the changes Woods is making to his game, he also shaved off the goatee he was sporting last week, opting for a clean shaven look. When talking with the media he laughed, smiled, and even cracked some jokes. He hasn’t forgotten last week though, but has learned from the experience,
“Frustrated, yes. Certainly frustrated in the way I hit the ball, the way I putted. I didn't do a whole lot positively around the course. But I've done some good work the last two days, and hopefully I'll be ready Thursday."
Woods feels that despite last week’s career low, his life is getting back to normal and reaching out for help, admitting to himself that he needs help, is essential to getting his game back.
“To be honest, I thought I would have been here a little bit sooner with all that's going on," Woods said. “I've fought hard and last week, I didn't have anything. I hit it terrible. I putted bad. I just didn't do anything right."
The only good thing about hitting rock bottom is pulling yourself back up again. We’re still rooting for you Woods.
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