Tiger Woods splits with swing coach Sean Foley

Tiger Woods has split with swing coach Sean Foley, saying on his website on Monday that his most recent injury-related break from the PGA Tour was “the right time to end our professional relationship.”

Woods thanked Foley “for his help as my coach and for his friendship,” and added, “Sean is one of the outstanding coaches in golf today, and I know he will continue to be successful with the players working with him.”

Woods, who has made three major swing overhauls under three high-profile coaches, said he is going it alone for now and that “there is no timetable for hiring [a new coach].” Of course, with the 14-time major champion unable to swing a club and out of action until at least his World Challenge event in December, there is obviously no rush to add someone to Team Tiger.

The breakup — unlike the divorce from Hank Haney, Woods’ most immediate former coach (2004-10) — appeared to be amicable.

“My time spent with Tiger is one of the highlights of my career so far, and I am appreciative of the many experiences we shared together,” Foley, who coaches Barclays winner Hunter Mahan and Justin Rose, said on Woods’ home page. “It was a lifelong ambition of mine to teach the best player of all time in our sport. I am both grateful for the things we had the opportunity to learn from one another, as well as the enduring friendship we have built. I have nothing but respect and admiration for him.”

The duo hooked up in 2010 and though Woods continued his major-less drought under Foley, the former world No. 1 won eight PGA Tour events during his tenure.

Rumors have been spreading — and debunked — that Woods would team up again with another ex-coach, Butch Harmon, who was beside Tiger from 1993 to 2003.

Criticism of Woods’ motion under Foley came from all corners of the golf world, though Tiger continuously contended he made the changes to relieve pressure on his injury-plagued knees. Now, however, the problems are with Woods’ back and he said recently he would be out of action until the end of the year.

”That’s it; that’s all I’m playing,” Woods told Golf Channel’s Gary Williams last week about his slated return for the tourney he hosts and which benefits his foundation. “And then starting in 2015.”