Woods' swing change affected run towards breaking 18-Major record, says Gary Player

South African golf legend Gary Player has said he believes that world number one Tiger Woods was on course to break Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major championship victories until he changed his swing.

Woods, who turned professional in 1996 and was coached by Butch Harmon until 2002 before switching to Hank Haney, was successful under both coaches and accrued 14 major titles between the 1997 Masters and the 2008 US Open, although he has not won a major in more than five years after splitting with Haney in 2010.

According to Sport24, Player hailed Woods, saying that there has never been a golfer with the talent Woods has, although he added that Woods was on his way to destroying all records and would have won close to 30 majors until he changed his swing.

Stating that he admires Woods for being ambitious and wanting to get better, Player, however, said that Woods has lost some of his confidence and got confused following his frequent coach changes, adding that it would take some time for Woods to get his confidence restored.

Player is one of only five men to win all four Grand Slam titles - the Masters, US Open, British Open and US PGA Championship, the report added.