• PGA Tour

Westwood splits from Tiger's coach Foley

ESPN staff
February 14, 2014
Lee Westwood and Sean Foley have worked together since July last year © Getty Images
Enlarge

Lee Westwood has parted ways with instructor Sean Foley after seven months working together.

Westwood told GolfChannel.com at the Los Angeles Open that he was "going to be working with somebody else," but did not disclose who it would be.

"I just wanted something else, a new way of teaching," Westwood said. "I did enjoy working with him."

Confirming the split, Foley added: "Things just didn't gel. Lee's a great guy and I wish the best for him."

Foley has been instructing 14-time major champion Tiger Woods since 2010 and also works with, among others, US Open champion Justin Rose and Hunter Mahan.

Westwood, 40, who took over the world No. 1 spot from Woods in 2010 and topped the rankings for 22 weeks, used to work with instructor Peter Cowen, who teaches several prominent European Tour players, including Henrik Stenson and Graeme McDowell.

With Foley, Westwood quickly found success, taking the 54-hole lead at the Open Championship, where he tied for third. But he has just one top-10 finish since and has not won since the 2012 Nordea Masters, a stretch of more than 18 months.

He is now ranked 33rd in the world. After missing the cut at the Phoenix Open two weeks ago, Westwood is in this week's field at Riviera and the WGC- Match Play Championship next week.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
ESPN staff Close