A good working schedule with Woods should also leave Haney ample time for the juniors, some of whom pay as much as $47,000 a year to live, go to school and train at the academy's facility on Hilton Head Island.
Haney worked with students Monday and Tuesday before joining Woods for a week of British Open prep work.
"Tiger's like the best player and he (Haney) can still get him to improve," said 17-year-old Jenny Feng from China, at the academy the past four months. "He'll really make us improve, too."
Haney plans to review each student's form every month. One of Haney's gifts, he says, is sizing up someone's game after watching one swing. A video center at his Dallas facility will make podcasts and Web-based instruction available to the juniors "even when I'm not with them."
Haney takes over for Gary Gilchrist, who left to spend more time working with his pro students, including recent LPGA Championship winner Suzann Pettersen.
Academy founder Ray Travaglione said he's faced many difficult decisions since starting the venture 12 years ago. "This was not one of them," he said, chuckling.
Haney's not sure he'll find the next Tiger on the academy's practice green, but he's certain he can improve students' prospects — on and off the course.
"The thing I always talk about is golf is the best vehicle there is for young people to learn life skills," Haney said.
Haney hasn't stopped learning, either. During a recent visit, Haney's game impressed Woods.
"Wow, where'd you get that?" Haney recalled the world's No. 1 player asking.
"I'm not blind," Haney says, "I'm watching what you're doing."
Woods has long shown a willingness to accept instruction, something Haney expects to see out of his new students.
Woods "doesn't care about what he's done. He doesn't care about where he's been. He doesn't care about how good he is. He only cares about, 'What do I need to do today to be better than I was yesterday,"' Haney said.
"That's his whole philosophy," Haney continued. "When you think about it, that's every kid at our academy."
