Tiger Woods’ former long-time golf coach Hank Haney believes the professional game is declining because Woods isn’t playing regularly enough to carry it…
Tiger Woods’ former long-time golf coach Hank Haney believes the professional game is currently in decline because the former World No.1 “isn’t there to carry it” anymore.
Haney is a well-known American golf instructor, best known for his work with Woods between 2004 and 2010.
Woods won six major titles under Haney’s tutelage, but they later split in acrimonious circumstances.
According to Haney in a recent Q&A with golf fans on X / Twitter, the legendary golf coach admits the pro game is struggling to adapt with Woods, now 49, no longer competing regularly on the PGA Tour.
Haney also considers the PGA Tour has taken too long to “evolve and address its issues” following the emergence of the Saudi bankrolled LIV Golf League in 2022.
Woods missed the cut in three of the four majors last season.
He also competed in his annual Genesis Invitational but he was forced to withdraw during the second round due to illness.
After the sixth back surgery since the end of Woods’ playing season in August, he was planning to get back on course again during September.
That kept him off the remainder of the 2024 PGA Tour but he did come back to play with his son Charlie Woods in the PNC Championship before Christmas.
Team Woods did very well but barely edged out by Team Langer in a tiebreaker.
One golf fan tweeted to Haney: The analysis excluding performance of amateur golf indicates that amateur golf is healthy, but interest in pro golf is faltering.
Haney replied: No they are not, well professional golf isn’t dying, it’s diminishing because Tiger ain’t around to prop it up anymore; LIV took a cut of the pie and the PGA tour did not adapt and deal with it’s problem, it is now and things will get better but there will never be another Tiger Woods.
He also believes that golf fans can also expect not to see another Tiger Woods anywhere in their lifetime.
