Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Woods-Coach Reunion Not In The Works
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. -- People who regularly note the
drop-off in Tiger Woods' major victories and general
success during the past two years seldom assume it's be-
cause nobody can play great every week or other players
have closed the gap on him. Many observers think it's
largely because Woods, who tied for 46th last week at Bay
Hill for his worst finish in five years, and instructor
Butch Harmon ended their professional relationship in late
2002. Since then, Woods either self-evaluates his swing or
occasionally employs an extra set of eyes from his friend,
Mark O'Meara. Woods said Tuesday that while he always is
grateful for what Harmon did to remold his swing in the
late 1990s, their collaboration was limited in recent years.
"I really didn't work a whole lot [with Butch] the last two
or three years," Woods said. "It wasn't a lot we were work-
ing on. Our biggest task was basically from '97 through '98,
when I changed my swing from an across-the-line kind of shot,
[with a] stronger grip to where it is now. ... After that,
it was basically kind of maintenance here and there." Woods
said the two men often talk when Harmon is out on tour work-
ing with Darren Clarke or Stewart Cink. And Woods said
Harmon "has meant a lot to me as a person." But they aren't
working together. "Butch and I are still friends," Woods
said, "and Butch will always be my friend. ... [But] as far
as asking for help on my golf swing, no." -- Glenn Shee ley
golf tips review
drop-off in Tiger Woods' major victories and general
success during the past two years seldom assume it's be-
cause nobody can play great every week or other players
have closed the gap on him. Many observers think it's
largely because Woods, who tied for 46th last week at Bay
Hill for his worst finish in five years, and instructor
Butch Harmon ended their professional relationship in late
2002. Since then, Woods either self-evaluates his swing or
occasionally employs an extra set of eyes from his friend,
Mark O'Meara. Woods said Tuesday that while he always is
grateful for what Harmon did to remold his swing in the
late 1990s, their collaboration was limited in recent years.
"I really didn't work a whole lot [with Butch] the last two
or three years," Woods said. "It wasn't a lot we were work-
ing on. Our biggest task was basically from '97 through '98,
when I changed my swing from an across-the-line kind of shot,
[with a] stronger grip to where it is now. ... After that,
it was basically kind of maintenance here and there." Woods
said the two men often talk when Harmon is out on tour work-
ing with Darren Clarke or Stewart Cink. And Woods said
Harmon "has meant a lot to me as a person." But they aren't
working together. "Butch and I are still friends," Woods
said, "and Butch will always be my friend. ... [But] as far
as asking for help on my golf swing, no." -- Glenn Shee ley
golf tips review
