MIAMI (AFP) - Tiger Woods, the former world No. 1 set to return to golf in less than two weeks, said Saturday that Chris Como is his new swing coach.
Como, based in Texas, began working with Woods earlier this month and became the fourth swing coach for the 14-time major winner since the American turned professional in 1996.
"Happy to have Chris Como consulting and working with me on my swing. I'm excited to be back competing," Woods tweeted in announcing the partnership.
Como, who works out of Gleneagles Country Club in Plano, Texas, was named by Golf Digest as one of the sport's best young teachers at age 35 in March of last year, telling the magazine he developed a curiosity about swing motions while growing up in California and that he worked with a Japanese couple who spoke little English, convincing him of the value of new teaching strategies.
Among Como's prior pupils is Australian Aaron Baddeley.
Como replaces Sean Foley, a Canadian who was dropped by Woods last August. They had worked together since 2010, including a 2013 season in which Woods won five times and took PGA Player of the Year honours.
Woods won eight major titles while under the guidance of Butch Harmon from 1996 to 2003 and six more working with Hank Haney from 2004 to 2010.
Woods, who turns 39 next month, is chasing five more major titles to pass the record 18 career majors won by Jack Nicklaus.
But no one beyond age 39 has won more than three major titles.
Woods, who has not won a major title since the 2008 US Open, has made several revamps to the swing motion that made him a historic figure in the sport as a result of injuries to his knees and back that have taken a toll in the later years of his career.
This year, Woods missed much of the season after surgery in March to ease pressure on a bulging disc in his back.
He made a late-season comeback but suffered another back injury and has not played competitively since missing the cut at the PGA Championship in August.
Woods plans to play in the Hero World Challenge on December 4-7 at Isleworth near Orlando.
The invitational event benefits his charity foundation.
Notah Begay, a friend of Woods who played alongside him at Stanford University, told The Golf Channel he introduced Woods and Como during his charity event.
