A golf miscellany compiled by PHILIP REID
Back in the ball game: Harrington in Major contention again as changes paying off
Not so much a prodigal son, for he’d never really gone away, the re-emergence of Pádraig Harrington (right) as a major player in the Majors – his tied-fourth finish at the US Open coming on the back of a tied-eighth place in the US Masters – is, nevertheless, something to behold and vindicates many of the changes he chose to make.
He knew what he was doing, reconstructing his swing and, even, changing coaches – hard as it was – from Bob Torrance to Pete Cowan.
The fact of the matter remains that nobody, bar none, has won more Majors since the Dubliner claimed a breakthrough win in the 2007 British Open and collected his third Major title when winning the US PGA in 2008. Remember Oakland Hills and those wide, scary eyes coming down the stretch? They energised Harrington, and terrorised Sergio Garcia.
And it was interesting to hear Harrington on Sunday evening in San Francisco relate why those “scary eyes” will never intentionally be a part of his weaponry at the business end of proceedings again.
“I’ll be surprised if you ever see them again. You might. But I’m not looking to be in that position at all. I’m happier to just manage my game in a more relaxed way. That’s a huge amount of intensity goes into that.
“Yes, it will happen again I am sure, but I don’t need it. I can do it much more within myself. I was in contention (here) and there is no doubt about it, I felt nice and relaxed and comfortable. The same with the Masters, and it is a little easier than the intensity of those staring eyes.”
The careers of elite players are defined by successes and, particularly, victories in the four Majors. That is very much the case for Harrington, whose three wins – in back-to-back British Opens in 2007 and 2008 and in the US PGA – made him the most successful European player of the modern era, since Nick Faldo, and which also made him hungrier for more Major glory.
“Everything is geared towards the Majors,” he conceded. “I do find regular events more of a sprint. I find in the Majors, that patience suits my game, suits my attitude. I need tougher golf courses at times and I like the idea that at a Major there is a lot of players play themselves out of it . . . all the way through my game, I have improved as a player (over the past four years).
“It is hard when you continually feel like you’re being judged and expectations are being built up all around you while you are trying to do your own thing. It has made me more resilient. I’m harder. If anybody knows me from my amateur days, they wouldn’t have thought it was possible to get harder. But I have. I am harder.”
In fairness, he understands that people judge players by results. But he pointed out: “I won three times in 2007 and 2008. People think you can continue to play at a peak, but it is impossible to play at a peak. It wouldn’t be a peak if you could play like that all the time.
“ So I know quite well that these things move cyclical and you go up and down in your form and you keep working away at the averages. And if you improve the averages, then those peaks come around maybe more often. Or just higher peaks.
“If you look at any sport, Usain Bolt hasn’t won every 100 metres since the last Olympics. At that stage nobody ever thought he could lose a race. So it’s just like that. Golf is the same. Any sport. You have your peaks and you have to knuckle down and play your way through.
“ I do believe I am a better player than I have ever been. I have learned a lot in the last couple of years and I continue to learn. I’m only disappointed there’s not a US Open every week and I’m looking forward to the next couple of Majors.”
Impediment: can stone be moved?
Question
A player’s ball lies in the rough directly behind a loose stone the size of a watermelon. The stone can be removed only with much effort. Is it a loose impediment which may be removed?
Answer
Yes. Stones of any size (not solidly imbedded) are loose impediments and may be removed, provided removal does not unduly delay play. If a player is deemed guilty of slow play, the penalty in matchplay is loss of hole or, in strokeplay, is two shots. In a Stableford competition, the penalty for undue delay/slow play is a two points deduction form the points total for the round.
Tough: 18th shows its teeth
The short par four 18th hole at the Olympic Club (above) was finally allowed to show some teeth for Sunday of the US Open, thanks to an extremely tricky pin placement.
The result was that the hole became pivotal in determining the outcome and increased its difficulty to be ranked the sixth most difficult hole of the final round: it averaged 4.3 and handed up just six birdies all day. There were 43 pars, 19 bogeys, three double bogeys and one triple bogey in the final round. In the previous rounds, the 18th was among the easier holes: in the first round, it was ranked 12th in difficulty; in the second, it was only 14th in difficult; and, for the third, was 11th.
In the bag
Webb Simpson
US Open Ball: Titleist ProV1x
Shoes: FootJoy Icon
Driver: Titleist 909D3 (10.5 degree)
Fairway Woods: Titleist 910F (13.5 degree, 17 degree)
Hybrid: Titleist 910H (21 degree)
Irons: Titleist 680MB (4 iron to PW)
Wedges: Vokey TVD (54 degree, 58 degree)
Putter: Ping Craz-E (long)
Home on the (clothing) range: G-Mac's collection will be available to public soon
The clothing range worn by Graeme McDowell on tour – known as the G-Mac by Kartel collection – will soon be available to the public but, already, indications are the new line of clothing will be a tremendous success.
“It’s been such a fun project to work on,” said Karl Swan, Kartel managing director, part of the family-owned John Swan Ltd business based in Dublin.
“Since proposing the idea of the collection to Graeme almost exactly one year ago (at the Irish Open in Killarney), the G-Mac brand has made incredible inroads. The first season has exceeded our expectations, with order commitments coming in from the best golf courses of America, such as Augusta National and Pebble Beach, as well as those closer to home including Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, Portmarnock and many more.”
The brand draws reportedly upon the values of McDowell’s ancestors, the warrior MacDougal Clan of Scotland from Scotland in the 12th Century.
Symbols associated with the family coat of arms are “strength,” “skill,” and the “determination to win at all costs.” Typifying his on-course game, it was this same attitude of, ‘if you’re going to do something, then give it your best shot’ that McDowell applied to the development of his own clothing line.
His eye for detail and his passion for luxury performance fabrics resulted in a “Modern Vintage” collection – using the vibrant colours the player has become associated with – that reflects the elegance and class of the great golfers of old.
“I had no idea what a loyal and strong fan base Graeme truly has, and having worked closely with the guy and experienced his genuine caring attitude, his fun-loving nature, and absolute professionalism towards everything he does, I can really see why he has such a following,” said Swan.
The 2012 season collection is virtually sold out to stockists and will be available to the public from July 20th.
