The ancillary demands of winning the US Open title at Shinnecock Hills, his second major, have preoccupied Retief Goosen writes John O'Sullivan at the K-Club.
An appearance on television shows in New York that necessitated flying from Orlando last Monday week pre-empted his return to Europe the following day and another round of media requests.
The first opportunity the South African had to relax was last Saturday when with countryman Ernie Els he pitched up for an afternoon at Wimbledon, returning chez Els for a barbecue. The genteel atmosphere of the All England club could not have offered a more marked contrast to the beer-fuelled gauntlet run by Goosen at Shinnecock. It was a minority but some of the New York audience, not known for their verbal reticence, decided to barrack the South African in the hope of facilitating a Phil Mickelson victory.
Goosen admitted he was largely oblivious to the catcalls. "Probably Ernie (Els) and some of the other guys would have noticed it more. I was so involved in my game that a lot of the time I didn't pick up much that was going on. Obviously they were cheering for their players which is normal. I am used to the fact that they cheer on their own players and some will try to intimidate the other ones. But I have gone past that and it doesn't really affect me."
It didn't come as a surprise but nor did the South African consider it to be excessive. "No I think they were fine and you expect that from New York crowds; by eight o'clock in the evening, by the time they had had a gallon of beer it was going to catch up with them a little bit."
Goosen was eventually moved to concede: "Now and again there was someone who made a bad remark but it is something that makes you more determined to show him that what he is trying to do is not working."
The essence of Goosen's sang-froid may be gleaned from his response to the question of how he maintains such a composed exterior. "You are nervous but you tend to get in a rhythm and you are focusing so much that in a way it takes some of the nerves away.
"Obviously you are nervous like anyone else would be but the more you put yourself in that position to win events the more you'll get used to playing under those circumstances."
Patience has been an integral part in his evolution as a golfer. Finishing second in the debut event he played in his first full season on the European tour in 1993 and having been considered an outstanding prospect back in South Africa in a generation of golfers that included Ernie Els, he struggled initially. Travelling, unfamiliar courses and clubs were challenging hurdles.
"It took me a while to sort out but I started working with Sam Frost on the swing. Then I worked with Jos (Vanstiphout) on the mental side. It was a slow road to get where I am but it is turning out quite nicely."
A seminal moment was undoubtedly his 2001 US Open triumph where he recovered from the trauma of a three-putt on the home green in the final round to beat Mark Brooks the following day in an 18-hole play-off. He won the Volvo Order of Merit that season, just holding off Padraig Harrington and in 2002 and 2003 enjoyed a couple of successes on the US Tour, the BellSouth Classic and The Chrysler Championship.
This week Goosen is keen to downplay expectations, having opened the golf bag for the first time in 10 days to play nine holes on Tuesday. His unfamiliarity with the Smurfit Course, and fatigue, suggest he has yet to convince himself he is in the right place. He observes: "I don't think I am quite ready to play this week and perhaps I should have taken another week off to get ready for Loch Lomon. You are playing a new course you haven't seen as well, but we'll see how it goes."
Goosen might have paid a quick visit to the Blarney stone en route to the K Club. He could be slow playing his hand. He might even be tired. But he is a professional and they're rarely apathetic; especially champions.
