LIer Park is coached by Tiger's new adviser

This happens to Annie Park all the time, either at tournaments with other nationally ranked junior golfers, or at home with friends in Levittown. Someone always asks her to name her golf instructor and she says it is Sean Foley.

"Then they go, 'Oh my gosh, I can't believe I know you!' " Park said. She then reminds them that they had asked the same question last year and Foley's name didn't register. That was before he became an international celebrity for working with Tiger Woods, raising the profiles of Park and all of his other pupils.

"I think it will be cool for all of Sean's students if he works with Tiger," said Park, 15, a sophomore at MacArthur High School and a regular on the American Junior Golf Association circuit. She was, in fact, on her way to Florida this week for a lesson with the 35-year-old who has become golf's hottest instructor.

Foley has not committed to becoming Woods' full-time swing coach. If he does, that will mean less time for students such as Park, if not pros Sean O'Hair and Hunter Mahan. But the latter two have said they have no problem with their coach taking Woods on as a client. And Park certainly recommends him.

She said that she added about 50 yards on her drives once she started working with Foley two years ago. Park was disappointed in her game through most of the 2010 season (she's No. 83 in the national Golfweek girls ranking), then had five hours of instruction from Foley in August. The result was a load of confidence and a fourth-place finish in the AJGA Junior at Kingsmill Resort in Virginia.

The golf world began noticing Foley this spring when he was seen talking with Woods during the golfer's practice rounds with O'Hair. Foley's still-unofficial advice has produced results, such as Woods' strong first round at The Barclays and his dominant singles win at the Ryder Cup Monday. Golf Digest evidently noticed. The magazine announced last week that it had hired Foley to be one of its staff instructors. He will debut in the November issue, to be published Tuesday.

Although Foley has been linked to the "stack and tilt" swing philosophy, which emphasizes a distinct posture and weight shift, Park said his lessons do not fit any specific teaching category. What's more, his sessions aren't technical at all.

"He tells me what to do, what to think about. Really, it's a life lesson that goes into golf," she said.

Foley is a Canadian who received a golf scholarship to Tennessee State, a predominantly black college and has said he grew as a person while he was one of the few whites in his dormitory.

Park got started young at a driving range, accompanying her mom to Spring Rock Golf Center in New Hyde Park. She quickly started winning local tournaments. By the time she was 12, the family decided she should spend winters in Florida and play national junior events. A fellow competitor directed her to Foley.

She traveled extensively last year, being home schooled by her mother. "I was so exhausted," Park said. So she returned to a more traditional education at MacArthur. "I like it better here. I go to school and meet friends, then I go to golf and meet other friends."

She has her sights on the Duramed Futures Tour, which is a steppingstone to the LPGA Tour. She realizes that Foley's time might be limited if he signs with Woods.

Then again, she might get to meet Tiger. "That," she said, "would be cool, too."