This weeks event on the US Tour is the Canadian Open. I will post a full preview on tomorrows site but for now enjoy some of the fantastic highlights over the years from this special tournament. Who will ever forget Tigers six iron to the 18th or the heartache in seeing Mike Weir come so close to winning his national championship only to see his dream shattered by a visit to the water on the 18th. Lets hope this week has more drama in store for us.
If it was drama you were looking for at the final round of this years British Open, you were most likely disappointed. Thats because South African Louis Oosthuizen strolled to a 7 shot victory in what seemed like one of the most comfortable British Open successes we have seen in a while. In fact probably not since Tiger Woods back here in 2005 have we witnessed such a procession. However, no one had it in the script that Oosthuizen could maintain such calmness and quality of playing for 3 days following on from his opening 64, except Louis himself of course.
The manner in which he won was simply sensational. If you are a golf purist, you have to admire the courage it takes lead a major from early Friday morning and maintain that lead until Sunday afternoon. When he three putted the opening hole on Saturday, there was a feeling that perhaps his slide had started. Oh how we couldn’t have been more wrong. On Sunday, as Casey fought hard and closed the gap to just 4 shots after a bogey from the South African on the 8th, you again thought perhaps now Louis would really feel the pressure and inevitably start coming back towards the rest of the field. Yet again, he dispelled such notions by driving the green on the 9th and rolling in the putt for an eagle two. A triple bogey on the 12th from Casey and it was all over. Perhaps not officially over until the fat lady sings but at this stage, the lungs were filled and she was ready to blast out the tune.
What followed for the remaining 6 holes was a lesson from Oosthuizen on how to close out a major. The game plan remained the same, he continued to swing with a freedom and each booming drive was greeted with a fairway. The crisp iron shots were finding their targets, the putting stroke was smooth and above all else, he remained perfectly calm and in control of his emotions.
It may have seemed like a one man show but there were other people out there who played and can be satisfied by the performances. Lee Westwood finished second at -9 in what was another strong showing from the Englishman (or will we call him British?) and surely it is only a matter of time before he wins a major. Of course, the longer he goes without winning one, the more doubt creeps into the mind and the task becomes that little bit harder…just ask Monty and Garcia!
Back in third place were Rory McIlroy, Paul Casey and Henrik Stenson. McIlroy in particular will look back on this week with mixed emotions. Having shot that fantastic opening 63 on Thursday, the manner in which he slumped to an 80 on Friday was disappointing. It was upsetting for me as an Irishman to watch because it was clear his head began to drop and instead of grinding out a 75, he was compounding his errors with further silly mistakes. It is something which McIlroy will reflect upon with regret but he is young and he is still learning his trade. To have gotten such an important lesson at such an early stage of his career is invaluable and he remains the greatest hope golf has of somehow matching at least some of Tiger Woods achievements in the game thus far.
For Woods, he will be encouraged by the fact his driving was much better. Calling me cynical but I think the fact he was aiming down fairways 100 yards wide and knowing there was little trouble down the left, made the task a little easier. Nevertheless, there were some improvements in the swing despite the fact he never really hit too many shots within “gimme” distance. True, not many players managed to do this all week but Woods isn’t just any other player. His putting too was disappointing which must be a concern. It is the one part of the game that technique goes out the window. You are either a good putter or you are not. For so long, Woods seemed to will balls into the hole. Will we ever see this Woods again? I wouldn’t rule it out but it certainly isn’t the case right now. For him to finish 13 shots behind the leader on a course that he really should be competing on will be a bit of a concern no doubt.
Today though was all about Louis. His routine par up the 72nd hole ensured he had written himself into the history books, following in the footsteps of his countrymen Bobby Locke, Gary Player and Ernie Els who have all won the Open Championship. It also occurred on the day South African legend Nelson Mandella celebrated his 92nd birthday…….perhaps it was simply meant to be! Our congratulations and respect go out to a most worthy champion.
Bobby Locke - 1950
Jack Nicklaus - 1970
Seve Ballesteros - 1984
Costantino Rocca - 1995
Arnold Palmer - 1995
Tiger Woods - 2005
2 years ago, we almost had the spectacular story the British Open craved when Greg Norman came down the final stretch in contention, only to be foiled in the end by the excellence of Harrington. Last year, again we all but witnessed the most spectacular story of major golf when Tom Watson led the Open with a single hole to go, only to be denied by a bit of misfortune and an attack of nerves it has to be said. This year, after only one day of the 2010 British Open at St.Andrews, a potentially phenomenal story looks like it could play out before our very eyes.
21 Year old Irish sensation, Rory McIlroy tore into St.Andrews today with the ruthlessness that could only be expected from someone so young and unconcerned by reputations. Despite only being -1 after 8 holes, an eagle two at the ninth kick started his round and his back nine of -6 was simply magical as he signed for a major record equalling 63. It was strikingly similar to that of his performance in Quail Hollow a few months ago, which is something for the others to sleep on and shudder at the mere though of it being repeated so soon.
Despite this incredible start though, it is still early days at the 2010 British Open and there are 3 long rounds ahead for Rory, especially when he sees the array of talent right behind him. Louis Oosthuizen is only a shot further back on -7 while Bradley Dredge, John Daly, Peter Hanson, ANdrew Coltart, Steve Tiley and Marcel Siem are all on -6. Daly was particularly impressive and only for some misfortune on the greens, he could have easily equalled McIlroy’s 63. On four separate occasions over the final 6 holes, Daly hit puts from within 15 feet that looked sure to drop, only to slip by the edge. I am a huge fan of Daly for his cavalier style approach on the golf course. Should he lift the Claret Jug come Sunday, he will be one of the most popular winners among the fans. If only he had some sort of dress sense to match his golf talents!
Tiger Woods sits ominously at -5 after a solid opening round. He actually got it to -6 before a short missed putt on 17 cost him bogey. Overall, Tiger was swinging it okay but he still looks vulnerable to the occasional snap hook. Todays conditions were perfect so mistakes were minimal out there during the morning session. Should the adverse weather roll into St Andrews, I still fear Woods could struggle a little. Needless to say, he will be there or thereabouts come Sunday but with the talent around him, I don’t think he can afford any mistakes, something he is still prone to and this early stage of his comeback.
Notably joining Woods on -5 are Lucas Glover, Nick Watney and Lee Westwood. I don’t think there is anyone in the World of golf who would begrudge Westwood his first major this week, such is the effort he has put in over recent seasons. Not to mention the fact he is one of the best ball strikers in the game today. Whats more, my English mate Paul always backs Westwood in the majors….and I mean always….but in a text I received from him today, he told me he remained loyal to the other English boys but chose not to back Westwood this time around. My, how costly will that prove come Sunday.
All in all, it was a reasonably entertaining opening round to the 2010 Open. I will confess that I am one of these people who would like to see the wind and rain move in for a few days and watch the pro’s really earn their keep. Forget the 63’s and 64’s, I want to see them grinding it out for 71’s and 72’s. Makes them seem human as I watch from the comfort of the armchair!!!
Rory McIlroys win in Quail Hollow a few months ago, completed in a manner with which only pure golfing geniuses posses, was his official arrival on the world scene. His swashbuckling aggressive style is refreshing in a game that is clouded with technical analysis and his gentle, accepting demeanor on the course suggests McIlroy has it all to be not just a champion, but the peoples champion. It almost seems like the public are ready to adopt a new hero. One that can give them everything they want, everything that a certain Tiger Woods looked sure to give until Tiger believed he was too big for just about everything that had made him what he was.
I personally have lost a lot of respect for Tiger Woods, the golfer. Over 12 months ago I wrote on this blog about his disgusting behavior on the golf course……the club banging, the foul language, the spitting and just his all round petulant spoilt ways. Nothing I have seen since his dramatic comeback at the Masters has led me to believe he has changed in any way, although I do acknowledge the fact that the personal problems he is going through are anything but pleasant and to have it played out in the media like it has been, must be incredibly difficult. However, once he steps on that first tee, he has a responsibility as the World number 1 and sadly, he is failing the game of golf badly in my opinion at this stage. Sure, he could go on and win another 10 majors but true champions are not only be measured by the success, but on how they handle failure. In the words of Rudyard Kipling:
“If you can meet with triumph and disaster
and treat those two imposter’s just the same……
…Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And - which is more - you’ll be a Man my son!”
Of course, I could be wrong about McIlroy. Perhaps he will flatter to deceive in similar fashion to previous pretenders to the throne like Sergio Garcia. It seems McIlroy is a different breed though. He looks ready to step up and adopt the role of the closest thing to Tiger Woods that golf has today. Mickelson, Westwood, Harrington and Rose are all incredible talents and indeed Mickelson is vying hard to become world number 1 but McIlroy is another step up in class. He reminds me of the Tiger Woods of old that we all fell in love with….the prodigy that revolutionized golf and provided us with some of sports most fascinating memories that will long remain etched into the record books. Things change though and unless Woods can change and adapt to a new role where he must accept his imperfections on the golf course, it won’t be long before McIlroy is breathing down his neck. In fact, he already is.
The next few years could be one of the most fascinating in the sport of golf. As I have alluded to, the stage is now set and two incredibly talented sportsmen look set to go to head to head to determine just who is the real champion of golf. My money is on McIlroy to take Tigers crown, but will he ever be able to match what the Woods of old has achieved…..I find it hard to accept, but maybe, just maybe…..
It only seems like yesterday I was watching the great Tom Watson battling it out down the stretch of the British Open with Stewart Cink, Lee Westwood and Retief Goosen. However it wasn’t yesterday and one year on, this great championship is upon us again, even more special this year in that it returns to the home of golf at St Andrews. Jack Nicklaus famously said you cannot claim to have reached the pinnacle until such time as you have won the Open at St Andrews. Tiger Woods reiterated those sentiments this week by claiming that “this is the one they all want to win”
Tom Watson again returns to have another crack at the whip and with the form he is in, he must be quietly confident, even if his odds would suggest otherwise. Scrolling through the list of names, I see the likes of Nick Faldo, Peter Senior, Sandy Lyle and Mark O’Meara gracing us without their presence but the bigger story for me is the omission of the former European maestro Seve Ballesteros. Although due to compete this week, Seve has been advised by doctors not to compete and not to travel to the famous old links. As a result, the golfing public misses out on what was sure to be an extraordinary and emotional return. If Norman, Watson et all have taught us anything in the recent past, it’s that “there is fight in the old dog yet”. No one could epitomize this phrase more so though than Severiano Ballesteros over the past few years in his battle with cancer. Our best wishes go out to Seve in his recovery and we remain hopeful that we will still see him back at a future British Open.
With that being said, it’s no down to the task of picking a winner of the Claret Jug. My brother Ian and I are have quite a competitive battle when it comes to picking the winners of majors this year. We both had McDowell at the US Open but Im one up on him since I had Phil Mickelson in Augusta. Initially, we were going to come together with our top 5 for this week, but to add a bit of spice into the mix, we have gone our separate ways and each come up with our top 5 tips. Surprisingly, we only have one man in common so you will have an array of stats and reasons thrown at you for the remainder of this post. SO, without further haste, lets begin with Ian.
Ian’s Top 5 (in no particular order)
1. Francesco Molinari each way @ 70/1
I tipped Francesco last week and I will tip him again this week. It is quite obvious that if Francesco Molinari could putt well, he would climb rapidly up the world rankings. He has been tied second and tied fourth in his last two outings and last year he finished tied thirteenth in the Open Championship. There is no doubt that Molinari will be in the top ten at the weekend in terms of ball striking and perhaps it might just make up for his putting woes. His odds came tumbling down in the last two weeks but the odds of 70/1 are still generous. If Molinari can putt well, he will go very close.
2. Steve Stricker each way @ 40/1
Now to tip quite possibly the best putter golf has ever seen. Steve Stricker won last week in the John Deere classic and his odds have stayed at 40/1, which seem very generous for the former world number two. He is a good ball striker, but it’s when he gets the flat stick in his hand that the magic starts to happen. He turns into some Harry Potter like character and the putter is his magic wand. His win last week was his second of the year and he has put a third place in with that record to make it look all the more impressive. He has done well in the Open Championship in recent years, finishing tied eighth in 2007 and tied seventh in 2008.
3. Jim Furyk each way @ 40/1
Jim Furyk is another player who has a chance at taking the title home with him. The tall American seems to have the perfect game for St Andrews. On the PGA Tour he hits seventy percent of the fairways he goes for and his greens in regulation stats aren’t too shabby either. He also has a good short game and is a strong putter, which are two things you need for links golf, especially if the wind is up. The world number five has only won one major in his career but has amassed four top five finishes in the Open Championship, two of which came in the last four years. He has won twice on the PGA Tour already this year and who’s to say he won’t win again.
4. Shane Lowry Top Irishman @ 13/1
Okay, now for a somewhat unlikely tip. Shane Lowry is playing in his first Open Championship and there’s no doubt that he’ll be excited and eager to make an impression. Can he handle this potential weight on his shoulders? I suspect so. The young Irishman is no stranger to links golf after winning the Irish Open last year as an amateur on a links course. He recorded a seventh place last week and despite having only one top five this year, he should feel extremely comfortable on links golf, regardless of the weather. He is 125/1 for the championship but the bet that appeals to me is that he’s 13/1 to be the top Irishman in the field.
5. Alejandro Canizares - Top Spaniard @ 6/1
As my last tip, I think that Alejandro Canizares might be a worth a punt to be the top Spanish player at the end of the tournament. Ultimately he is in good form and a lot of his fellow Spanish aren’t. Like Shane Lowry, it is his first Open Campionship but he has the game to succeed. He was tied second in France two weeks ago and despite making the cut last week in Loch Lomond last week he was disappointing, but he is only twenty seven and I would expect to see him bounce back in the Open. As I said his fellow Spanish aren’t looking too hot to do well this week. Garcia’s game is in the doldrums, Jimenez seemed to suffer severe burnout from his win in France and was very disappointing in Loch Lomond, Quiros has been known to spray one or two balls a bit wide of the mark which won’t serve him well for St Andrews, Castano is in very poor form, Garrido missed the cut last week and Lara is also in poor form. With odds of 6/1 Canizares stands out for me.
James Top 5 (in no particular order)
1. Rory McIlroy each way @16/1
If there is one man who everyone should consider backing it has to be the young Irishman, Rory McIlroy. I backed him two months ago at 25/1 for this championship and I have never been happier with one of my selections heading into a major championship. McIlroy is quite fond of St Andrews you know. His worst score on this course is 69, not too shabby one would have to agree. Furthermore, the Alfred Dunhill Links is played in St Andrews every year and in the last three years, Rory has finished 3rd, Tied 8th and Tied 2nd last year. He is on record as saying that the course is probably his favorite of all and add into the mix that he has publicly stated the confidence boost he has received from his best mate McDowell’s win in the US Open, and everything seems to fall into place nicely. His putting is the only concern I have but with the weather set to be extremely punishing over the next 4 days, the fact McIlroy has grown up on links golf further boosts the credentials. We all know he is the potential World number 1 in waiting such is the quality of his golf. This week the sun, moon and stars have all aligned in perfect position and they are screaming McIlroys name. While 16/1 is pretty low, with Paddy Power paying out on top 7, you cannot ignore this bet.
2. Padraig Harrington each way @ 22/1
I have gone through the lists and the records and I weighed up who would be my second selection from the big names to back up my selection of Rory McIlroy. Woods, Els, Mickelson and Rose figured strongly in my reckoning but in the end, it came down to one of two between Westwood and Harrington. Westwoods form over the past year has been scintillating and his record in the Dunhill is equally impressive. Harrington also has some fine form in the Dunhill Links. His last 5 years at the event has seen him finish T3, 1, T8. T13 and T26 last year. Having won 2 Opens in the past 3 years, he also should have the confidence to finish the job should he be in contention coming down the stretch. I still do not think Harringtons game is where he would ideally like it to be but considering the weather conditions expected this week, winning the Open could come down to a real dog fight and a battle of the wills. There are not too many in Harrington’s league when it comes to the mental side of the game. His exquisite short game, mixed in with his discipline and patience, means he has a real each way chance. I do think it is imperative he gets off to a good start this week though to get his confidence up.
3. Francesco Molinari each way at 70/1
I wont go into further detail than what Ian has said above about this man. Having watched him more closely this year and especially last week at Loch Lomond where his ball striking was sensational, there is no doubt the Italian has the game to a major. As Ian eluded to, if he puts well, he contends, if not, he doesn’t. I believe it is as simple as that but at 70/1, Im willing to take that bet.
4. Robert Allenby each way @ 100/1
After the first few months of this season, I decided that Robert Allenby would be one to watch out for at the Open Championship. His ball strinking is excellent, his putting has improved no end and he is a solid driver of a golf ball. However, when he gets around the greens, he’s not exactly Harrington-esque! Truth be told, he has in my opinion one of the most ordinary short games among the professionals on tour. As we all know though, at St Andrews, the preferred choice is often the texas wedge…i.e. the putter. The open Championship should suit Allenby in that he is tough as old boots and the set up of links golf means he wont be forced to nip too many wedge shots off those oh so tight lies. Taking all this into consideration, I struggled to figure out why he was priced at 100/1. The reason may have to do with a recent niggling injury he has been carrying. Perhaps it has not cleared to the full extent that I had believed, in which case, odds of 100/1 may be justified. Im quietly confident that a fit Allenby can hang around the top of the leaderboard should he make his way up there.
5. Soren Hansen each way @ 150/1
As I searched for a big priced name I could recommend I came across the likes of Darren Clarke, Tom Watson and John Daly, each of whom appealed for various reasons. The more I searched though, the more the name Soren Hansen appealed to me. Over the past 3 years, Hansen has finished T8 twice in the Alfred Dunhill at St Andrews. He also finished T8 at the British Open last year, in addition to T6 at the US Open. This further highlights the credentials of Hansen as a big player on tough course in testing conditions. His form over the past months however has been anything but inspiring with 3 missed cuts in his last 7 tournaments. But hey, that’s why he is 150/1 and thats why he possibly presents great value. His overall game is solid, he is a gritty competitor and once he gets the bit between his teeth, he has a habit of hanging around leaderboards. Im hoping he might be able to squeeze somewhere into the top 7 although I admit, it’s a bit of a longshot. 150/1 seems too generous to refuse though.
Summary
So there you have, our top tips for the Open. Im happy with my selections but would cast doubt on Ians selection of Lowry. The likes of McIlroy, Harrington, McDowell will make it extremely tough to top that illustrious list. One quick thing I should point out as an Irishman, we have now won 4 of the past 14 majors, thats an incredible 29% strike rate. Plastered all over Sky Sports and Sky Sports News are interviews with what they refer to as their top British selections, headed by McDowell and McIlroy. Lets get this straight, both men played for Ireland at the latest World Cup so lay off the British tag. They are Irish. You boys can gloat when one of your English boys finally wins a major. Here in Ireland we know it’s been a long time since Nick Faldo gave you reason to toast success at a major back in 1996 (yes, that long!!!!) but trust me, it will happen again. Until then, sit tight, relax and enjoy the Irish show.
P.S - On Betfair there was a blog entitled Top 10 Brits for the Open and as well as including McIlroy and McDowell, he actually included Harrington. Unless you guys are planning an evasion to overcome the recent recession, surely we can still claim Harrington as Irish??? Out of respect, I wont mention the author but c’mon, a little respect please!
P.P.S - One of my mates just text me there saying Luke Donald equalled the course record at the Old Head of Kinsale yesterday in strong winds. No doubt a big confidence boost for Donald and perhaps something for you betting folk to consider. Doing it the week before the British Open and doing it the weak of the British Open are two different things though. Im sticking with my selections!
What an incredible performance overall from Fred Couple’s American team but in particular, that man Tiger Woods. 5pts from 5pts in what was near flawless golf, along of course with Steve Stricker. Phil Mickelson was also inspiring which has me a little worried ahead of next years Ryder Cup. However, on home soil, I am still confident our European lads will be more than capable.
Greg Normans controversial, and in my view plain stupid, decision to select Adam Scott backfired badly as the Australian failed to produce any form or much points. Normans decision in my view was a patriotic one that he should not have made. I was expecting Rory Sabbatini to get the nod ahead of the rest, especially Adam Scott, whose form has been appalling.
I did feel sorry for Scott though. Although I am sure he was desperate to play, he should not have been put in that situation. It will be interesting to see if Norman now remains at the helm after making such a critical error in judgment. I hope Colin Montgomerie is taking note!!
It is difficult to look beyond Tiger Woods as the overall Fed Ex Cup winner, such is the form he is in. However, two men very much still in contention for the top prize, Sean O’Hair and Padraig Harrington, sent Tiger an early statement of intent that they will not be giving in just yet. We all know the words “giving in” and “Padraig Harrington” are never associated with each other anyway, like chalk and cheese if you will, and it is his personal duel with Woods that the crowd want to see coming down the stretch on Sunday.
Sean O’Hair though is the deserving leader after his fine opening 66. Lurking a shot back is the trio of Woods, Harrington and Cink. It promises to be a great few days of golf and I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed for an Irish win. After all, what better week for an Irishman to rise to the top, than the same week we celebrated the 250 year anniversary of Arthur GUINNESS.
I raised a few GUINNESS already in celebration but I would have no hesitation in doing the same Sunday evening if Harrington does the business….just no more 8’s on the card please Harry….my eyes, heart and stomach just can’t take it anymore!!
What a great USPGA Championship it was this year. The only regret is that there was not a few more involved coming into the final few holes. Y.E Yang was hugely impressive as he held off Tiger to win and when you consider he hit the fairway on the 16th and 18th as well as all three greens on the 16th, 17th and 18th, it was clear he was not one bit phased.
Woods on the other hand was unusually subdued. He hit some lovely iron shots but the putter was stone cold, a rarity for him in a major championship. Many people are pointing to his poor putting on Sunday for the reason he lost but I disagree. For me, Woods relinquished his dominant status on Saturday. With a comfortable lead, Woods played conservative golf on Saturday and allowed competitors like Yang and Harrington the opportunity to take advantage on what is typically known as “moving day”. The Woods of old would have extended, not relinquished that lead. However, it is becoming more apparent that the great one is human after all, as he chases down Nicklaus record. Woods would have been somewhat anxious to win his 1st major of the year and on this occasion, he was not up to the task and it is not unreasonable to suggest that Woods perhaps got nervous and more to the point, he looked under more pressure than the cool, unflappable Yang. When you consider Woods was 1 shot behind with 4 holes to go and failed to birdie the par 5 15th and then never gave himself a realistic birdie opportunity on the 16th, 17th or 18th, it doesn’t sound like the Woods of old. In saying that, he is still the best in the world and more majors lie in store. It just seems now like people won’t be rolling over and conceding anymore so Woods will have to produce his best in every major going forward.
Disappointingly, Woods etiquette was bang out of order AGAIN, on the golf course. When he missed his par putt on the 17th, he immediately muttered F**K. A few seconds later as he approached the ball, he again exclaimed F**K and again it was there for all to hear. Finally, as he walked away from the green, he covered his mouth with his arm and again shouted F**K. Now I play golf and I am not immune to the odd curse etc on the golf course. However, he is Tiger Woods and he is a global role model for all kids. It is not very often you hear professional golfers cursing on the course and that is the way it should stay. It is completely inexplicable if Woods does not get disciplined for his verbal misuse but then again, the PGA Tour officials, in my opinion, will balk once again at the opportunity to impose a fine on him. Their inaction is cowardly, as is the failure of TV commentators to criticise the great one when he engages in such behavior.
Even more disappointingly for me, was Padraig Harrington’s 8 on the par three 8th. It was the second week in a row Harrington threw away a competition with an 8 and it will take all his resolve to come back from this one. It will be difficult but I think Harrington is made of sterner stuff. His swing changes look to be taking shape and he drove the ball as well as I have ever seen over the past few weeks. For Padraig, I feel it is imperative now that he just has a consistent end to the season and is in the right frame of mind for next season. Plenty of work for Mr Bob Rotella no doubt!
Lee Westwood continues to perform well in the majors and surely, surely, he can win a major sooner rather than later. His ball striking is as good as it gets right now and he just needs to work on the scrambling department in my view. If he can improve his short game a little, he will find himself shaving an extra couple of shots off his score. Rory McIlroy is another who will be pleased with his performance and it appears, like he is ready to take the golfing world by storm. The only concern is his putting which looks extremely ordinary. He never looks confident over the 4-8ft putts and there is shades of Garcia beginning to emerge. For me though, McIlroy is fundamentally more sound and will realise his talent going forward.
So that’s it, all four majors are now finished and it must be said that Y.E Yang’s performance eclipses them all. At one stage he was +5 for the USPGA but finished -8. That is quite incredible. His shot into 16 did not get the credit it deserved. It was a marvellous shot and Ewan Murray, who said it was pulled a little….shame on you! If that had been Woods, we would have had 5 minutes of what a masterful shot it was. His eagle chip on the 14th was also memorable but for me, the shot of the Championship and the shot of the golfing season so far, was his second into the 18th. With a rescue club in his hands and over 200 yards out, Yang hit the most beautiful shot into 12ft. Any miss-hit would have opened the door for Woods to force a playoff but Yang was mentally too strong and swinging great. The South Koreans win could now mark the beginning of Asian golfers winning globally. We have seen it on the women’s tour and I’ve always maintained we would see frequent Asian golf winners on the men’s tour at some point. Perhaps now is their time. Congrats once again to Y.E Yang!
It’s 7pm Sunday evening in Ireland and at long last, Tiger Woods and Padraig Harrington are going head-to-head for the first time since Harrington’s back-to-back major success. Finally, Padraig has found some bit of form and looks like he might just pull this off, considering he does have a 3 shot advantage!
45mins later and a Woods eagle has seen Harrington’s lead whittled down to only one and I am already twitching in my seat. I’m receiving text messages from friends acknowledging this could be one of the great duels and I am agreeing. I am worried about Harrington’s drives however and the length of time it has been since he has been in contention…could he possibly stay in touch with the great one?
Fast forward a few hours and they have played nine holes. Woods has gone out in 5 under with a superb ball striking exhibition. He leads by two now from Harrington who has holed some clutch par putts but he is driving the ball well. It’s what we expected to see really, Woods with the blistering start but Harrington refusing to go away.
A Harrington birdie on the 11th and then deficit is cut to one. But wait a second, Woods bogeys 13 and 14 and an incredible par from Harrington on the 14th means he now leads. Harrington is now splitting the fairways and even outdrives Woods by 40 yards on one of the holes. Yes, 40 yards!! After they exchange pars on the 15th, Harrington still leads by one playing the 16th. A pushed drive on the 16th though and this is where everything changes.
Up to now, it had been a fantastic battle. Two of golf’s modern stars, head to head, and all to play for. The tension is audible and the crowds are 10 deep. This could be special they all agree! So Paddy stands over his ball in the right rough on 16 and then, unusually, appears to hit his layup with very little consideration and puts in the rough again. I’m amazed and think, he is after completely loosing concentration. This is so unlike Harrington I thought. 5 minutes later and Harrington has taken 8 to Woods 4 and the competition is over. The battle has ended and Harrington is wounded. Woods goes on to finish him off with the calm of a true great and with it earns his 70th Title. World class…he certainly is. Harrington shakes his hand and reassures him “We will do battle many times again”
However, in his speech, Woods praises Harrington for the battle they had but criticises referee John Paramor for putting them on the clock on the 16th……Hold up a second, they were put on the clock? That explains Harrington’s rushed behavior and Woods pointed out that it visibly affected Harrington.
Now, we will never know what would have happened and I know that slow play is not welcome but for John Paramor to stick his nose in what was a great battle is absolutely ridiculous in my view. Who the heck are they holding up? Hell, the spectators wouldn’t mind if they spent an extra 5hrs on the course such was the intensity and desire amongst these two to win. Maybe, if there were others in contention, the referee might have had a point but there was no one else. The winner was going to be Harrington or Woods…period!
Such is golf however and personally, the most satisfactory thing for me was watching Harrington compete again. He is now a serious consideration again for the upcoming USPGA Championship and being paired with Woods in the opening two rounds, the rivalry continues sooner that most might have expected.
