Tiger Woods not looking for a new coach

Tiger Woods has insisted he is not currently looking for a new coach as he continues his rehab from the back problems that ravaged his season.

Announcing Hero Motocorp as the new title sponsor of his World Challenge event – where he anticipates making his return to competitive golf this December – the former world No.1 told reporters he is not actively seeking a replacement for Sean Foley, with whom he split last month after more than four years together.

Various teachers, including Woods’ old coach Butch Harmon, have been mentioned as possible replacements for Foley but Tiger said that there is no-one in the frame just yet.

“Am I looking for a new coach? As of right now, no, I’m not,” said the 14-time major winner. “Right now I’m just trying to get physically better, stronger, faster, more explosive.”

Another of Woods’ old coaches, Hank Haney, have suggested that that Tiger would be better off going it alone given his broad knowledge of the game. The 38-year-old, however, was coy when that idea was put to him.

“I would have to say on the technical side, I probably don’t know as much as some of them,” he added. “But from a feel standpoint, which is something that I think is innate, because of what we’re able to do at such an elite level, yeah, I think I know a lot more than they do because they’ve never played down the stretch on the back nine of a major championship, never won majors, never felt that, what do the hands feel, what does the body feel, the things that we as players at this level who have won enough times understand, what it feels like.

“I miss competing, I miss playing, I miss being out here with the guys.” – Tiger Woods

“You have to understand your practice sessions. Those practice sessions, will they work on the back nine on a Sunday of a major, either yes or no, and I think that’s one thing I’ve always tried to tell all my coaches, will it work or not work, and if it’s not going to work, then we’re not going down that road.”

On the subject of his fitness, Woods added that he is growing frustrated of sitting on the sidelines.

“Would I like to play? There’s no doubt, yes,” he said. “I miss competing, I miss playing, I miss being out here with the guys, I miss all that, but I’m not physically ready for it yet. You know, there are two components to it. You can be strong, but I want to be back to where I used to be. I want to have that speed back again.

“This summer, I had it for a little bit, and then it kind of deteriorated as I played. It was nice to be able to shut it down, get stronger, now I’m incorporating the speed element into it, and I’ll start ramping up from there. Once I get to that point where I feel comfortable doing that, then I’ve got to get out there and do all the legwork on the range and eventually the golf course and ultimately under tournament conditions.”

Tiger Woods: What does 2015 have in store?

After injury wrecked his 2014 season, what do you think 2015 has in store for Tiger Woods? Leave your thoughts in our ‘Comments’ section below.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor