Darren Clarke has parted company with his coach Pete Cowen. Clarke, who is taking a three-week break from competitive golf, said he needed a "fresh perspective" on his game.
"After a lean start to the 1999 season I felt I had become a little too bogged down with the technical aspects of the swing and would like to use this time alone to clear my head of some of these thoughts," said Clarke.
"I owe a great deal to Peter, who has certainly taken my game to another level in the two-and-a-half years he has coached me. However, right now I feel I need a fresh perspective on what direction I should take.
"I do not have any preconceived ideas about a new coach. I think I will be better working it out for myself for a while."
Meanwhile, Jesper Parnevik, who has parted company with his caddie, fired a seven-under-par 65 to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the Greater Greensboro Classic in North Carolina.
Parnevik had six birdies and an eagle, using a new putter, a new set of irons and his new caddie - part-time touring pro Lance Ten Broeck, one of his close friends.
The European Ryder Cup star fired caddie Lorne Duncan after being disqualified in last week's MCI Classic. But Parnevik said rumours that he and Duncan had a bitter disagreement in the aftermath of the disqualification are untrue.
