A golf miscellany by PHILIP REID

Europe grateful for Garcia: Sergio's smile is back

WHAT are we to make of this newly re-energised Sergio Garcia (right)? If his recent endeavours on the PGA Tour in the United States – a win followed by a third place – were, somewhat bizarrely, achieved with a local club caddie and a friend on the bag in successive weeks rather than with a professional tour bagman, the upshot is a player with the Ryder Cup on his mind and a smile back on his face.

Any of us who were there for his failings in past Majors, most notably when he lost out in a play-off to none other than Pádraig Harrington in the 2007 British Open at Carnoustie and then the following year’s US PGA in Detroit, wouldn’t have to delve too deeply to recall what came across as whinging and moaning. It was as if the gods had chosen him for special treatment as the fall guy.

Against that, Garcia has always seemed to come alive whenever the Ryder Cup came around. This was evident not just when he was a player, but also – as experienced at Celtic Manor two years ago – when he was a non-playing part of the backroom team. He hugged, he smiled and he imparted energy to all those around him.

Now, he is back playing in that same way. And if anyone ever doubted his commitment to the Ryder Cup, then his unselfish decision to bypass this week’s Deutsche Bank championship – the second of the US Tour’s season-ending FedEx Cup playoff series – so that he will be fresher in the weeks ahead, and especially with the match at Medinah in mind, is one that smacks of a new mindset from the Spaniard.

He is thinking of others as much as himself.

In missing out on the Deutsche Bank in Boston, Garcia has toughened his own task of earning a shot at the $10 million bonus on offer to whoever wins the FedEx Cup. That the decision should be taken with one eye on the Ryder Cup is indicative of a changed fellow from the one who in the past often came across as surly and spoilt. Time has served him well, and – even without a Major to his name – it is better that life’s lessons have enabled him to once again play golf with a sense of purpose and, most especially, a smile.

Corporate golf challenge: Lough Erne hosts event

THREE days before a shot will be struck in anger in the Ryder Cup, a quite different team event will take place on the Nick Faldo-designed course at Lough Erne. The Irish qualifier for the World Corporate Golf Challenge will be staged on the Co Fermanagh lakeside course on September 25th – open to small or large companies – with a place in next year’s global final at stake.

The £220 entry fee per team of two includes 18 holes on the Faldo Course at Lough Erne, designed by six-time Major winner Faldo, breakfast on arrival, buffet lunch and gift bag, a range of water-based activities on Lough Erne for competitors throughout the day and, of course, the possibility of an all-expenses paid trip (flights, golf, all WCGC official functions) to represent Ireland at the 2013 World Final!

Entry details are available from Lynn McCool, the head professional at Lough Erne: email golfshop@lougherneresort.com or lmccool@lougherneresort.com

Measuring up: Ryder men not so hot on the Genworth scale

OF the nine different categories in the Genworth Statistics – which take account of the week-in, week-out play on the PGA European Tour – it is interesting to note that just two of José María Olazábal’s team actually head any: Luke Donald is top of the “one putts per round” average (with 7.33), while Nicolas Colsaerts (right) is head of the driving distance category. The Belgian pummels the ball an average of 316.7 yards on each measured drive.

Wrong information: could prove costly

Q In matchplay, A and B are competing when A – voluntarily – informs his opponent during play of a hole he has played three strokes whereas in fact he has played four shots. A does not correct the error before B plays his next stroke. Is A subjected to a penalty?

A Yes. Under Rule 9-2, when a player gives incorrect information, it is irrelevant whether the error is contained in response to a question from his opponent or in a voluntary offering by the player. Such an error must be corrected before the opponent’s next stroke is made.

The penalty for not correcting the error is loss of hole.