The Loop

Foley shoots back at Kostis: "Boy did he get that one wrong"

August 08, 2012

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. -- That noted swing rebuilder/refiner Sean Foley is both opinionated and thick-skinned is beyond debate. Since taking the reins from Hank Haney two years ago at the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, Foley has brushed off the criticism from pundits with poise and grace.

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Just as his prime student Tiger Woods was taught to let his clubs do the talking for him, Foley has opted to let Tiger's impressive stats, including three wins, beat back the horde of critics. He does, however, draw the line with TV analysts who, despite the use of the most sophisticated technology, make an incorrect call when it comes to Tiger's action.

"Boy did he get that one wrong,'' said Foley Tuesday afternoon, referring to CBS analyst Peter Kostis, who described Tiger's clubface as being "toed-in'' while hitting a tight draw last week during the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.

Foley went on to explain that the shot was actually executed with an open clubface. Through body rotation Tiger imparted right-to-left spin on the ball and that's what made it curve.

"His clubface was open say three degrees and his body rotation amounted to four degrees. That's what produced the draw.''

Simple math.

At the time, Foley was working with Hunter Mahan, who has been getting out of position on the through swing.

"When he (Mahan) hits it in the sweet spot he hits a nice draw,'' Foley said, demonstrating the good and bad positions. "The body controls the sweet spot.''