Hungry Tiger's the sultan of swing

"Earl said he had never really gotten on Tiger before, but on this day he took him into the snack bar after the round was over, locked the door, and they had a little talk.

"He told Tiger that his behaviour was a disgrace and reminded him that the game of golf didn't owe him anything. The golf course didn't owe him anything, and that he, Earl, sure didn't owe him anything. He told him that pouting and whining were just other forms of quitting.

"Earl said Tiger didn't talk to him on the flight home and gave him the silent treatment for two days after that. On the third day Tiger came up and told his father 'Pop, I heard every word you said. I promise I'll never quit again'. And he never has."

Wiping tears from his eyes at Sunday's presentation ceremony beside the 18th green at Augusta National, Woods dedicated his fourth Masters green jacket to his father, who is seriously ill. Haney paid Woods Snr his own personal tribute, saying: "Earl Woods has done the greatest job in coaching Tiger that anyone has done in the history of sports. That's the reason I told Tiger to not ever to refer to me as his coach. I'm just his friend who helps him out once in a while with his swing."

As a personality, Haney is the polar opposite of the high-profile Butch Harmon, who basked in celebrity after giving Woods the swing that won seven majors from 11 starts around the turn of the decade.

Haney insisted: "I consider myself a teacher. I teach golf. Who am I to tell Tiger Woods how to play golf?" The answer is provided by Mark O'Meara, Woods' closest friend, who has been a long-time client of Haney.

The former Masters and Open champion said: "Tiger Woods doesn't really need a teacher. He can figure it out for himself. But he's not super human. He's still a person, he's only 29 so he's still able to struggle a little bit.

"Let's be honest, the top instructors are all operating on pretty much the same wavelength. What Hank's so good at is understanding ball flight. He fixes you according to your miss."

Until the drama of Sunday's shootout between Woods and DiMarco, the faith placed in Haney by Woods and O'Meara hadn't been mirrored by sceptical observers.

Perhaps they should have heeded Haney's creed: "Athleticism, talent and a willingness to work are all helpful. But the quality I like most in a student is patience."

He added: "It was the media's perception that thing's weren't working. But when Tiger was practising he felt really good about what he was doing. He kept saying he was close, and it became a joke. But he knew he was close, he could feel it coming."