CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, (Reuters) – World number one Tiger Woods has downplayed rumours he may be ready to part company with coach Hank Haney.
“That’s complete speculation,” Woods told reporters yesterday on the eve of the Quail Hollow Championship, where he will head a field that includes Masters champion Angel Cabrera.
Rumours swirled that Haney, who has been with Woods since 2002, may be on thin ice after he was on the end of a verbal spray by Woods following the third round at the Masters earlier this month.
But Woods said he had just been letting off steam on the range after bogeying the final hole a few minutes earlier.
“I didn’t hit the ball the way I wanted and didn’t make any putts (at the Masters),” Woods said.
“I didn’t finish off my rounds the last couple of days and it cost me the tournament.
“Usually, you just leave me alone for a while and I’ll be ready to focus on what I need to do to get ready for the next day.
“You’ve got to vent (and) we don’t get a chance to do that, because we come off the green, do media right away.
“It has nothing to do with Henry (Haney). He’s seen it before (and caddie Steve Williams) has seen it.”
Kenny Perry, who along with Chad Campbell lost out to Cabrera in a playoff at the Masters, is taking this week off to serve Thursday as grand marshal at the Pegasus Parade at the Kentucky Derby.
However, Campbell, who was eliminated from the playoff with a bogey at the first extra hole after hitting a poor second shot, is playing at the Quail Hollow Club.
“I was very, very upset right after it happened and I’m still upset about some of the shots I hit,” said the Texan.
“It was perfect number (for a seven-iron) and I just hung in out there to the right,” he lamented.
