Comments:

"No problem at all. He is very confident with Nike and their direction."

--Eden Foster, Maidstone Golf Club, East Hampton, N.Y.

"In the worst case, while they strive to make the equipment he wants, they will merely stamp over his present selections!"

--Joe Hallett, PGA Center for Learning and Performance, Port St. Lucie, Fla.

"Rory could win with a broom and dustpan, if he had to."

--Dan Pasquariello, The Clubs at St. James Plantation, Southport, N.C.

"There will be an adjustment period. If he has any struggles this year the equipment change will likely be questioned."

--Fred Griffin, Grand Cypress Academy of Golf, Orlando, Fla.

"Athletes with great talent can adapt to all conditions. Because they take personal responsibility for their success and don't blame others or anything for their lack of success."

--Peter Krause, Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy, Hilton Head, S.C.

"Given today's available technology in assessing the golf swing and physical attributes behind the swing, Nike has the capability to fit Rory into equipment that matches him perfectly. Therefore, assuming that Nike has done their 'homework' with Rory in helping him select the Nike equipment and the Nike golf ball -- that fits his game and that he likes -- there should be absolutely no problems with his changing over to new equipment."

--Ed Ibarguen, Duke University Golf Club, Durham, N.C.

"Money makes the world go around and around but not golf swings."

--Tom Patri, Friar's Head Golf Club, Riverhead, N.Y.

"Not in today's world. You can copy anything."

--Mike Perpich, RiverPines Golf, Alpharetta, Ga.

"Any change has a window of adjustment required to become unconsciously conditioned."

--Brad Brewer, Shingle Creek Resort, Orlando, Fla.

"I believe he will have some adjustment problems. Golf is a feel game at that level. It will take him six to eight months to get back where he feels comfortable again. I think the ball will be the biggest adjustment."

--Jim Suttie, Ph.D., Cog Hill G.C., Lemont, Ill.

"His past playing record seems to show he runs hot and cold anyway, that's who he is, a little like Phil Mickelson. I doubt he will be any more up and down then in the past."

--Michael Hebron, Smithtown Landing G.C., Smithtown, N.Y.

"I always like to find the positive in everything, but in this case, I do think Rory will have trouble adjusting if they really have them playing with new equipment. At his refined level, even small changes can seem huge and can take adjustment time. I think Nike is genius to sign him. He is great for the game and seems a true role model."

--Kellie Stenzel, Palm Beach Country Club, Palm Beach, Fla.

"History tells us that most have a tough time adjusting to new clubs and golf balls. so my answer is yes."

--Charlie King, Reynolds Golf Plantation, Greensboro, Ga.

"Clubs? No! Ball? Yes! His whole life he was used to his ball reacting in a certain way, that will change."

--Steve Boshdosh, Members Club at Four Streams, Beallsville, Md.

"I don’t think Rory will have as much a hard time as Tiger will not being 'Top Dog' at Nike."

--Rick McCord, McCord Golf Academy at Orange Lake C.C., Orlando, Fla.

"Rory will have no problem adjusting to the clubs. Nike is way ahead of the curve with innovative design and technology, and custom-fitting. Maybe a little adjustment to the ball, because it's different than the ProV 1. As many may say, the expert archer can shoot any arrow and hit the target."

--Carol Preisinger, The Kiawah Island Club, Kiawah Island, S.C.

Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs will be online today at noon Eastern to answer swing questions and analyze swing videos. If you have a question for Brady, leave it in our CoverItLive chat below.

After Tiger Woods missed the cut at the Wells Fargo Championship, we asked Golf Magazine's Top 100 Teachers if they thought Tiger would stay with swing coach Sean Foley through the end of the year.

Here's what the Top 100 Teachers said:

Comments:

"Mr. Foley will be another casualty of the wrath of El Tigre. Next up Moe, Larry and Curly. Curly handles the short game." --Tom Patri, Tom Patri Golf Services, Naples, Fla.

"What they are working on is actually 'stuff.' Tiger will get it going again soon." --Mike Adams, Hamilton Farm Golf Club, Gladstone, N.J.

"Tiger has never had a stretch like this and it will lead to their downfall." --Bryan Gathright, Oak Hills Country Club, San Antonio, Texas

"Even for Tiger, golf is like farming, not school. Results come by following a rigorous process and not by cramming. Tiger's current stats, 19th in GIR and 2nd in total driving, are a lot better than his being 167th and 192nd at the end of 2010, and the stats point to his 'crop' being ready to reap before long." --Dom DiJulia, Dom DiJulia School of Golf, New Hope, Pa.

"Sean is dealing with a lot of old issues with Tiger's swing. Give him credit for trying to get Tiger's wrists fractionally cupped and his shaft in better position." --Rick Smith, Treetops Resort, Gaylord, Mich.

"Yes, but may not make it long into 2013." --Krista Dunton, Berkeley Hall, Bluffton, S.C.

"Tiger will give it at least through the Masters 2013 to see if Foley's 'method' can work." --Ed Ibarguen, Duke University Golf Club, Durham, N.C.

"Sean has done his job extremely well. Now it is up to Tiger to get out of his own way." --Bruce Patterson, Butler National Golf Course, Oak Brook, Ill.

"What's working for Hunter Mahan and Justin Rose is not working for Tiger. Tiger needs to make up with Butch and return to getting back to basics. Now, Tiger's mind is way too cluttered to play consistent golf." --Ted Sheftic, Bridges Golf Club, Abbottstown, Pa.

"Woods hasn't fixed the driver, and his distance control with irons is still suspect. The root cause: he's too steep on his downswing." --Kip Puterbaugh, The Aviara Golf Academy, Carlsbad, Calif.

"Yes, but it won't be a good decision unless Foley gets off swing mechanics and starts helping Tiger to play the game." --Keith Lyford, Golf Academy at Old Greenwood, North Lake Tahoe, Calif.

"Frustration will cause him to change." --Jim Murphy, Sugar Creek Country Club, Sugar Land, Texas

"Foley is just not getting the job done. It is crazy to think how many wins Woods would have if he had not changed from near the perfection of the 2000 season." --Eric Johnson, Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, Pa.

"Nothing against Sean, but Tiger is starting to understand that he needs to play his way back to the top. Nobody can think their way through a two-second motion. Golf by the numbers just doesn't work." --Jim Suttie, Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, Lemont, Ill.

"Tiger doesn't need a coach. He needs to start playing golf again, instead of playing golf-swing. I personally do not think the 'move' he is trying to do goes with his body or framework." --Chuck Evans, Gold Canyon Golf Resort, Golf Canyon, Ariz.

"Yes. Who would he go to next?" --Mike Bender, Magnolia Plantation Golf Club, Lake Mary, Fla.

"I suppose. Tiger is pretty stubborn, and Foley says that Woods is only two years away from where he wants him." --Jerry Mowlds, Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course, North Plains, Ore.

We're tired of our playing partners re-enacting the opening scene of Reservoir Dogs when it's time to tip the forecaddie so we asked the most knowledgeable men and women in golf -- the Golf Magazine Top 100 Teachers in America -- how much you should tip your caddie, forecaddie, locker-room attendant and even the guy who cleans your clubs. Here's what the Top 100 Teachers said:

Comments:

"Ask the caddie master what is appropriate for the club you are playing at. They differ."

--Todd Sones, White Deer Golf Course Vernon Hills, Ill.

"Over $100 at high-tier course /$61-$81 at a mid-tier course/$41-$60 at a low-tier course."

--Rod Lidenberg, Prestwick Golf Club Woodbury, Minn.

Comments:

"Again ask caddie master, but normal is $30 to $40."

--Todd Sones, White Deer Golf Course Vernon Hills, Ill.

Comments:

"$5 per pair of shoes."

--Todd Sones, White Deer Golf Course Vernon Hills, Ill.

"$5 if no shoe shine, $ 10 if shoes are shined."

--Jim Murphy Sugar Creek Country Club Sugar Land, Texas

Comments:

"$3 to $5, depending on how good a job he does."

--Todd Sones, White Deer Golf Course Vernon Hills, Ill.

"$5 to clean clubs and take clubs to car."

--Jim Murphy Sugar Creek Country Club Sugar Land, Texas

The 2011 season ended in a ‘24’-style cliffhanger with Tiger winning the Chevron. Back playing this week, will Tiger continue his winning way in 2012? Can he still break Jack’s record? Did former coach and current biographer Hank Haney breach Tiger’s trust. We asked our Top 100 Teachers for the real story. Here's what they said:

Comments: 

"I would absolutely bet more if I had it." --David Glenz, Crystal Springs Resort, Hamburg, N.J

"No, but that is only because I would never bet that amount on anything. I still think he has a shot at it." --Dom DiJulia, Dom DiJulia School of Golf, New Hope, Pa.  

"I would bet my house on Tiger breaking Jack's record 18 majors. When Tiger is done he will own 24 majors." --Mike Adams, Hamilton Farm Golf Club, Gladstone, N.J.

Comments:

"If it’s all about golf, then don't teachers share their knowledge to help others become better? If it’s not about golf then its weak." --Jim Murphy, Sugar Creek Country Club, Sugar Land, Texas 

"He is being selfishly opportunistic. His ego is far beyond his teaching knowledge." --David Glenz, Crystal Springs Resort, Hamburg, N.J

"Not unless he wants to lose all credibility and make some tabloid $$$." --Joe Hallet, PGA Center for Learning and Performance, Port St. Lucie, Fla. 

"Hank's claim that the book covers part of golf history has validity but we'll have to see how far he goes...it will all depend on the content for me." –-Dom DiJulia, Dom DiJulia School of Golf, New Hope, Pa.

"Why not? I can't wait to read it." --Steve Bosdosh, The Members Club at Four Streams, Beallsville, Md.    

"I would have to think that Tiger did more for Hank's career than Hank did for Tiger's. Pretty sure the Golf Channel wouldn't do a Haney Project if Hank was teaching me instead of Tiger." --Jason Carbone, Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfield, N.J.     

"Why would an instructor write a book about any student? The intimacy of a relationship that long and well-known should remain private. I compare it to a spouse writing a book about their well-known partner following a divorce." –-David Wright, Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club‎, Mission Viejo, Calif.

"Yes, unless he's allergic to making a ton money." --Tom Stickney, Big Horn Golf Club, Palm Desert, Calif.

Comments:

"He can still control his trajectory and distance at an elite level." –-Jason Carbone, Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfield, N.J. 

"I don't see him as having a dominate part of his game at this time." --Ed Ibarguen, Duke University Golf Club, Durham, N.C.

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This story was produced for Golf Magazine's weekly Front9 app. To keep up with the latest golf news, get great tips from the Top 100 Teachers in America, and weekly Rules Guy columns, download the Front9 app at the Apple iTunes store. A lifetime subscription is $2.99.

A trim and fit Phil Mickelson starts his season this week in Palm Springs. We asked Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers what to expect from Mickelson this season after his uneven 2011. Here's what they said:

Comments:

"Three or more if he fixes his putter problems." --Todd Sones, Whitedeer Run Golf Club, Vernon Hills, Ill.

"Zero. You have to putt well to win a major." --Glenn Deck, Pelican Hill Golf Club, Newport Coast, Calif.

Comments:

"He has too many putting teachers who contradict each other. Pelz and Stockton don’t teach the putting stroke the same way." --Brad Redding, Grande Dunes Resort in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

"He has a putting stroke that everything has to be timed perfectly, very small margin of error." --Todd Sones, Whitedeer Run Golf Club, Vernon Hills, Ill.

"Even if he did, he'd still make more putts than the average Tour player." --Steve Bosdosh, Four Streams Golf Academy in Beallsville, Md.

"He doesn't have the yips, but he hits his short putts way too hard. That is why he gets so many violent lip-outs." --Eric Johnson, Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, Pa.

"If you really understood the true yips, absolutely not." --David Glenz, Crystal Springs Resort, Hamburg, N.J

"Yes, but with the driver." --Peter Krause, Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy, Hilton Head, S.C.

"He will if you count the Champions tour." --Eric Johnson, Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, Pa.

"If Tiger had played another sport he would have reached 50." --Glenn Deck, Pelican Hill Golf Club, Newport Coast, Calif. 

"I know he has enough talent to get to 50 but I worry about how his arthritic condition will affect his ability to play and practice to the extent he would need." --Jason Carbone, Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfield, N.J.

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This story was produced for Golf Magazine's weekly Front9 app. To keep up with the latest golf news, get great tips from the Top 100 Teachers in America, and weekly Rules Guy columns, download the Front9 app at the Apple iTunes store. A lifetime subscription is $2.99.