Hank Haney vs. Johnny Miller

I typically like Johnny Miller because he calls 'em the way he sees 'em. But, it's one thing to offer an opinion when you are informed, but another when you are just piling on.

On Sunday during The Players Championship, Miller said Tiger needs to switch coaches because what he is working on with Hank Haney is clearly not working. Hmmmm...let's look at the record a little bit. Last year, Tiger returns to the tour after a 9 month layoff after knee surgery, after winning the U.S. Open on one leg, and wins 7 times worldwide. This included one of the Fedex tournaments where he blitzed the field by 8 shots, and back then Johnny Miller said that was the best golf he had seen out of Tiger since 2000.

So, now, Tiger's problems are a result of poor swing mechanics? Has nothing to do with the off-course issues for sure!

Miller went on to say that he felt that the way Haney teaches does not match up well with Tiger's swing, saying Haney's method requires too much hand action. Huh? Tiger went to Haney because he wanted to shape the ball WITHOUT relying on his hands. Over time, since Tiger has come on tour, his work with Butch Harmon AND Hank Haney has improved his swing dramatically.

If Miller did any research at all on how Haney teaches, he would know that he spoke out of turn. Tiger's best days may have been in 2000, but he himself will tell you he had to play more heroically back then because he did not have the ability to hit some of the shots that he has been able to the last couple of years. Furthermore, Tiger's woes when he has failed to win majors the last few years can be traced directly to his putting.

I remember that run he had in 2000 when he won the U.S. Open by 15 shots and the British Open at St. Andrews by 8 shots. In the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, I never saw him have a bad lie in the rough, and he made what seemed like every single putt he had inside 15 feet.

At St. Andrews, Tiger did not hit the ball in any single bunker for 72 holes. I met a golfer from Scotland a few years ago who said it is virtually impossible to play 18 holes there without hitting it in a bunker, let alone 72 holes. He said, you can hit it down the middle of the fairway and get a crazy bounce on any hole and end up in a bunker.

Tiger played some fabulous golf back then. He himself will tell you he is a better golfer now. Remember, he has had four surgeries on his knee since then. Once he recovered from his last surgery, he and Hank had to work on new swing thoughts because he had a new, stronger knee than he had for years. He went on to win 7 tournaments last year.

I think Johnny Miller needs to get a clue. His game left him a long time ago, and he never even bothered to play on the Champions Tour because he knew he couldn't compete. Now, he comes off as a grumpy old man. I like Johnny, but he is off base here.

Hank completed an interview with the Golf Channel today, which will be aired in its entirety on Sunday at 6 pm ET. You'll see that he is a humble man.

Scott Cole
Hank Haney Pro Associate Instructor Level 2
www.scottcolegolf.com
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com
www.powergolftraining.net