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Woods' ex-coach Foley: 'If he wants to,' Woods will get game back

Tiger Woods is at a crossroads, where his personal life and professional career meet.

Woods is 39 and a father of two growing kids inching toward their formative years, sharing custody with ex-wife Elin Nordegren. He's also a 14-time major winner with 79 PGA Tour wins, an ailing back, a troubled short game and an erratic driver.

What's more important? It seems family is winning, and former coach Sean Foley is supportive.

“The golf world doesn’t want that, but he’s my friend, and to watch him with his kids, he’s easily one of the most patient fathers I have ever seen,” Foley said to the Toronto Sun.

“If you win a tournament, it feels good, but you go home and your kid takes a bee-line at you and jumps in your arms that just feels better. So I’m sure, as we all get older, we all have this kind of discussion with ourselves. And I’m sure he’s had it.”

Foley -- who started working with Woods in 2010, less than a year after his public shaming related to extramarital affairs -- said Woods is in a far better place now as a father than when they first met.

“My hat’s off to him because I think he’s seeing things for how they matter, and if that upsets the golf world, then so be it," Foley said. 

Woods announced Feb. 11 that he won't play on the PGA Tour again until his game is "tournament ready." On one hand, his agent Mark Steinberg says Woods is working hard on his game and wants to play tournaments. On the other hand, he isn't in this week's Honda Classic, just miles from his home in Jupiter, Fla.

Several of the game's legends, including Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman, believe there's some kind of mental block keeping Woods from performing at even an adequate level. Foley sees the gap as one of desire.

Asked if Woods will get his game back, Foley responded, “He’s Tiger Woods. If he wants to, he will. It’s that simple.”


Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.