Tiger Woods’ former coach, Hank Haney, has explained why the Open Championship is the 15-time major champion’s “best chance” of winning this year.
The 48-year-old has featured just a handful of times this season, with his last outing coming at the US Open, where he narrowly missed the cut.
Woods is already at Royal Troon ahead of the final major of the season as the world’s best players prepare for one of golf’s most unique tests.
Haney, who isn’t shy about expressing his opinion on Woods, has now taken X to assess the 48-year-old’s chances ahead of this week’s event.
Hank Haney: The Open is Tiger’s best chance
Colin Montgomerie offered a blunt retirement message to Woods after his US Open disappointment, and many agreed that he should call time on his illustrious career.
Haney disagrees, however.
Taking to X on Monday evening, the 68-year-old has claimed The Open is Woods’ best chance of winning this year.
Haney wrote: “A lot of people thought Augusta was Tiger’s best chance to ever win again, it wasn’t, it was always the Open Championship for multiple reasons, he can hit shots like this, slower greens mean fewer 3 putts and no one has more knowledge about playing links golf.
“Based on what he’s done so far this year it’s kind of looking like now or never. His swing looks really good in practice.”
Tiger Woods looking good ahead of The Open Championship
Footage of Woods practicing ahead of the year’s final major is undoubtedly promising.
He was striking the ball well and looked in complete control, something the golfing world caught glimpses of at Pinehurst.
Woods was perhaps a touch unfortunate during the most challenging major of the year. Good shots were punished, and his usually impeccable putting somewhat vanished.
As Haney mentioned, with slower greens and favourable conditions set to take centre stage this week, The Open could provide Woods with his best chance to add major number 16 to the collection.
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