Ruthless Westwood axes coach and caddie in reaction to another major-free year

By Derek Lawrenson for MailOnline

Published: 18:04 EDT, 12 August 2012 | Updated: 18:04 EDT, 12 August 2012

Lee Westwood has reacted swiftly to another winless year at the majors by dispensing with Pete Cowen, his coach for the past six years, and Mike Waite, his caddie since May.

He will also take on a new short game guru in another bid to sort out the bane of his life, his work around the greens.

‘You could say the USPGA Championship was the tipping point because he led the field in greens hit in regulation for 36 holes and yet missed the halfway cut,’ explained his manager, Chubby Chandler.

All change: Lee Westwood has taken decisive action

‘He’s frustrated with the way he has performed in the last two majors and lost a bit of focus and enthusiasm.’

Chandler wouldn’t name the short game coach but the pair will work together all this week in Florida with the intention of building for Westwood an entirely new technique.

Westwood is moving to a new home at Old Palm Country Club in the Sunshine State in December, where the short game practice facilities are second to none. ‘Lee has never been afraid of working hard on his short game but has never really had a technique that has worked well for him,’ explained Chandler.

‘He’s been very structured with his fitness over the last few years and that has done wonders for him. Now the intention is to introduce the same structure to improving his short game.’

Gone: Pete Cowen (left) with golfer Graeme McDowell

Westwood missed a host a short putts to squander a glorious opportunity to win the Masters in April and another chance to win that elusive first major slipped by at the US Open, where he finished tenth. But the last two majors were a big disappointment.

‘Maybe the move has had something to do with it as well,’ said Chandler. ‘It’s a big change for Lee and his family at the age of 39 but it is also the right time to do it. I think we will see the benefits of the move next year.’  

Zimbabwean Mike Kerr, taking time off from working with Spaniard Alvaro Quiros – he won’t play again for the next two months -  will be his new short-term caddie when Westwood returns to the tournament scene at the first of the four FedEx Cup events in New York next week. The Ryder Cup follows immediately after that, so he has plenty to play for over the next two months.

Westwood’s regular is Billy Foster, who damaged cruciate knee ligaments in May and won’t be back until next year.