"Pro golf in decline because Tiger Woods isn't there to carry it" claims ex TW coach

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. 

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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. 

Woods underwent the sixth back surgery of his career in September.

That ruled him out of the remainder of the 2024 PGA Tour season but he did return to compete alongside his 15-year-old son Charlie Woods at the PNC Championship just before Christmas.

Team Woods performed admirably but lost out to Team Langer in a playoff. 

One golf fan tweeted to Haney: "Amateur golf is doing just fine but interest in professional golf is dying.

Haney replied: "Professional golf isn’t dying, it’s declining because Tiger isn’t there to carry it, LIV sliced the pie up and the PGA Tour didn’t evolve and address its issues, it is now and things will improve but there will never be another Tiger Woods."

He also considers we will never see another Tiger Woods, at least in our lifetime.

Woods - alongside Rory McIlroy and the PGA Tour - will get their brand new TGL off the ground next week.

TGL is a new indoor tech-infused golf league that will comprise 24 of the best PGA Tour players in teams of four. 

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