Tiger Woods’ ex coach told he’s talking nonsense with Rory McIlroy claim

Hank Haney, former coach to Tiger Woods, found himself in the midst of a heated controversy following his critique of Rory McIlroy’s golf swing on the eve of the 2024 U.S. Open. In a post on the social media platform X, Haney stated that while he believes McIlroy’s swing is “great,” he speculated how much better the Northern Irish golfer could be if he “fixed his head” during his downswing. Haney illustrated his point with a picture of McIlroy’s driver swing at impact, highlighting that McIlroy’s head moves significantly from its ideal position.

The post quickly ignited a firestorm among golf enthusiasts, many of whom defended McIlroy’s swing as one of the best in the sport. McIlroy is widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers of the golf ball in history. One user on X sarcastically responded to Haney, questioning, “I wonder how good Scottie Scheffler would be if he just worked on his balance and footwork.” Another user added, “Do you just post this for attention?”

Haney, known for his candid opinions on social media, did not respond to each critical comment individually but later made a follow-up post. Haney’s relationship with controversy is not new; he has previously stirred the pot with his unfiltered remarks.

Haney’s tenure as Woods’ coach spanned from 2004 to 2010, a period during which Woods secured six major titles. Their professional relationship ended shortly after Woods’ personal life became the subject of widespread media scrutiny in 2009. In 2012, Haney expressed regret over the deterioration of his relationship with Woods. Despite this, Haney did not hold back from criticizing Woods publicly, especially after Woods condemned Haney for making racially insensitive comments on the radio regarding the U.S. Women’s Open. Haney’s remarks, considered by many as tone-deaf and offensive, drew significant backlash, prompting an apology from him.

However, Haney was notably displeased with Woods for being among those who criticized him. He took to X to vent his frustration, writing, “Amazing how Tiger Woods now has become the moral authority on issues pertaining to women. I spent six great years coaching Tiger, and not one time did he ever hear me utter a sexist or racist word. Now, in addition to being a 15-time major champion, I guess he thinks he’s also a mind reader?”

This latest incident adds to Haney’s history of contentious public statements and his tendency to engage in controversial discourse within the golfing community.