A wise Yorkshire man once said, “If it’s not broke, then don’t mend it.”
So why is Tiger Woods so obsessed with ‘improving’ what was deemed back in 2000 as the finest golf swing on the planet?
During his reign as world number one he amassed 14 Major titles and nearly 100 professional victories and yet he still decided to ditch his coach Butch Harmon. Harmon ultimately created the world’s first perfect golf swing but this wasn’t good enough for the world number one so he employed the teachings of Hank Haney. A tough task it has to be said. How do you improve on perfection?
In many of Tiger’s press conferences he backed up his coaching move by stating, very diplomatically, that there was always room for improvement within the game of golf. A fair point. It took some time before we saw his game and swing reach the dizzy heights of success once again but whatever he was working on didn’t seem to be doing his body any good. Although he did notch up his 14th Major title at the 2010 US Open he did some considerable damage to his left knee in the process. Not what Monsieur Haney was perhaps expecting.
After surgery and nearly a year out Tiger’s world number one status had been taken by Martin Kaymer and during this time of extended ‘rehabilitation’ our friend found alternative ways to entertain himself whilst unable to hit golf balls. This led to scandal. divorce, public humiliation, a new caddy and another coach employed.
A lot to change.
Things happen on and off the course for most professional athletes and they all have to weather the storm. Tiger’s public fall from grace stunned those who thought he epitomised the ultimate sportsman, athlete, husband and father but he came back and carried on hoping to break Jack Nicklaus’s major haul.
The question is why change something that wasn’t broken? Just because hIs marriage fell apart why change the two things that helped him get to be the world’s most successful and recognisable sportsman? Ditching the greatest ever caddy, Steve Williams who, lest we forget stood by his boss throughout the scandal, was a bold and some would say foolish move but to try and change the ultimate golf swing seemed to be the only thing Tiger had left to call his own.
I don’t know what Tiger’s current coach Sean Foley is trying to get him to do but after yesterday’s round at The Masters you’d have to say it ain’t working. Watching Tiger slapping the drives almost into Kentucky was painful to watch but hitting the grandstand from 198yards with a four-iron downhill in an attempt to hit a high cut, clearly proves that there is a lot of work still to do with the coach and caddy.
If there is a way to find the swing that so easily brought Tiger Woods those 14 Major Titles then I hope it turns up soon. If you can’t find it this week, Eldrick then perhaps you could swallow your pride and pop into the SKY Sports commentary booth and ask Butch Harmon if he wouldn’t mind a half hour on the range. WE know that’s the solution - I hope you realise it before the frustration of poor golf takes from us the world’s most iconic sports star.
No one person has done more for one game than Tiger Woods has for golf and I think it would be a tragedy if we didn’t see him get back to the status he so rightly deserves.
CK
