Els says Woods does not need new coach to return to Major-winning form

South African golf ace Ernie Els has said that former world number one Tiger Woods should forget about hiring a new coach after splitting with Sean Foley and could return to major-wining form on his own.

Former world number one Els said that Woods had never been the same since he stopped working with Butch Harmon in 2003, and that he didn't like the direction he had taken under Hank Haney and then Foley.

But Els said that injury-hit Woods, far from looking at the embers of his career at 38, was still capable of returning to the very top of world golf at the expense of Rory McIlroy, Sport24 reported.

Els, who is headlining October's Venetian Macau Open, said that he does not think it is the passing of the torch yet, because he added that he knows where he is at 44, and Woods not 40 yet so there is still a lot of life left in the dog.

Woods, the 14-time major-winner, ended his four-year association with Foley this week after cutting short a troubled season dominated by his recovery from back surgery.

Many wonder whether golf is seeing a power-shift from Woods, without a major win since 2008, to world number one McIlroy, who won this year's British Open and PGA Championship.

But Els, who won his fourth major, the 2012 British Open, aged 42, said Woods could still challenge McIlroy if he returns to full health and gets back to basics with his game.

Els said that Woods is young enough, he's strong enough, and added that the American has had some really bad injuries to his tendons and to his back now, that's not a great sign. But, Els said that if Woods is healthy, he's shown that he can win.

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The South African also said that Woods has obviously got enough talent and his record shows for itself, he's a winner. He added that if the American gets healthy he can win a couple more majors, definitely.

He also said that he feels Woods does not need a coach, adding that the American maybe needs a friend of his to lay eyes on him all the time just to check his fundamentals.

Els will play alongside Miguel Angel Jimenez and Thongchai Jaidee at the 9,00,000 dollars Macau Open, from October 23-26 at Macau Golf and Country Club, the report added.