Tiger Woods’ former coach Hank Haney was subjected to a furious backlash after the instructor criticised Rory McIlroy’s golf swing on the eve of the 2024 U.S. Open.
In a post on X, Haney made it clear he believes McIlroy’s swing ‘is great’.
But the instructor wondered how great ‘he would have been’ had the Northern Irishman ‘fixed his head’ in his downswing.
Haney posted a picture of McIlroy’s driver swing at impact, demonstrating that his head moves considerably from where he would like it to be.
Golf fans were quick to point out that McIlroy has one of the greatest swings we have ever seen.
He’s arguably one of the greatest drivers of the golf ball ever.
“I wonder how good Scottie Scheffler would be if he just worked on his balance and footwork,” one X user wrote to Haney sarcastically.
Another added: “Do you just post this for attention?”
“I’d sit this one out,” another added.
Haney is no stranger to offering his unfiltered opinions on the platform.
He didn’t reply individually to each message but later posted:
Haney was Woods’ coach from 2004 to 2010, a stretch that saw him win six major titles.
The duo split a few months after revelations about Woods’ private life broke in 2009.
In 2012, Haney told of how he regretted how his relationship with Woods soured.
Though that didn’t stop him from publicly criticising Woods after the golfer criticised Haney for the racially charged remarks that he made on the radio about the U.S. Women’s Open.
He attracted major criticism after making what some considered a series of tone-deaf jokes.
Haney did apologise.
But wasn’t happy after Woods was one of those who condemned the instructor.
“Amazing how Tiger Woods now has become the moral authority on issues pertaining to women,” he previously wrote on X.
“I spent six great years coaching Tiger, and not one time he ever hear me utter one sexist or racist word.
“Now, in addition to being a 15-time major champion, I guess he thinks he’s also a mind reader?”
