Associated Press
STATELINE, Nev. (AP) ó Tiger Woodsí ex-swing coach believes the former No. 1 player can win the five majors he needs to pass Jack Nicklausí record of 18. Hank Haney says itís just a matter of Woods getting healthy.
Woods is not at the British Open this week, missing his second straight major while he tries to recuperate from ěminor injuriesî to his left knee and Achilles due to an awkward stance in the pine straw in the third round at the Masters. Woods has had four knee surgeries since his freshman year at Stanford.
ěSo heís going to be in some level of discomfort for the rest of his career,î said Haney, who was at the American Celebrity Golf Championship at Lake Tahoe this weekend. ěNow, itís just a question of whether or not he can tolerate that.î
Haney, the swing coach for Woods during one his most successful stretches, says the key for Woods is getting back to where he can practice regularly.
In announcing earlier this month that he would skip the British Open, Woods said he hadnít hit golf balls since May. The knee injuries, combined with the sex scandal that led to his divorce, have limited Woods to about half as much practice time as he used to get, Haney said.
ěThatís a lot of missed time,î Haney said Friday. ěGiven the opportunity to practice and play, if he still has the desire and the passion, and he has the body that will allow him to do it, then thereís no reason to think that he couldnít still break Nicklausí record.î
Haney said there are two ways to look at it because Nicklaus was 46 when he won his last major at the Masters in 1986. Woods is 35.
ěTiger has 40 more majors to play in. But these majors are slipping by,î Haney said. ěAnd then you look and you say he just needs to win five more. But the fourth and fifth one will be the really difficult ones. But you can say heís got plenty of time, he could do it.î
On the other hand, Haney said it would mean Woods would have to win ěmore majors than Phil Mickelson has won his whole career and he has to do it after the age of 35.î
ěWhen you start looking at it like that, you think this is going to be really difficult,î Haney said. ěBut I wouldnít put anything past him, if he can prepare and play. Heís arguably the greatest or the second greatest player thatís ever played the game. But heís still got to play and practice.î