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First round at Quail Hollow -poor Pod is stone last of 156 starters.
6 bogeys in the first nine holes and , wait for it , two of these at the par 5s.
This means that he then had bogeyed the last 6 par fives he had played in tournament golf -must be some kind of a record though I doubt anyone keeps these grim stats.
For a triple major winner -he has lost the plot bigtime which is sad to see in an Irish sporting hero.
6 bogeys in the first nine holes and , wait for it , two of these at the par 5s.
This means that he then had bogeyed the last 6 par fives he had played in tournament golf -must be some kind of a record though I doubt anyone keeps these grim stats.
For a triple major winner -he has lost the plot bigtime which is sad to see in an Irish sporting hero.
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I have never seen any sports star as intense as he in interviews even for an accountant.I am only a passive golf follower but surely he over analyses his game and his frame of mind and needs to get basics?
I believe he is fairly pally with Desmond and JP,his brother was involved in a tech company in the US with the "lads" that was liquidated
I believe he is fairly pally with Desmond and JP,his brother was involved in a tech company in the US with the "lads" that was liquidated
Perhaps he needs to go back to Bob Tor. He was struggling before he left him but he may need to start afresh from the beginning. The belly putter is the last resort - he should just forget it.
It was an unbelievable surprise to everyone else bar Padraig when he went changin his swing after winning 3 majors! Turns out everyone else was right!
If it aint broke....
If it aint broke....
One wonders why he shouldn't revert to the swing that brought such rich dividends .
I'm dismayed that he has flirted with a belly-putter -never thought he'd stoop to that !
He apparently has suffered heavy investment losses in the general crash and I noticed in his last few tournaments he had developed a paunch . His mental composure must be under some pressure -leading to the physical results we see.
His brand would appear to be on the decline.
I'm a fan and hope he can turn it around -and where better than at the Open ?
I'm dismayed that he has flirted with a belly-putter -never thought he'd stoop to that !
He apparently has suffered heavy investment losses in the general crash and I noticed in his last few tournaments he had developed a paunch . His mental composure must be under some pressure -leading to the physical results we see.
His brand would appear to be on the decline.
I'm a fan and hope he can turn it around -and where better than at the Open ?
Has gone to the belly putter now,which he was calling to be banned.Seems to have gone over the edge now,that bizarre gizzmo he was using around his head a few weeks ago took the biscuit.Think a long break from the game is what's needed.
see his advert for the straight jacket that helps you with your swing? 
Genuinely thought it was a comedy sketch.
He is mentally shot and has never shown himself to be the toughest in that department. Hes "Too nice" imho. I never got over how after winning one of his majors, he gave an interview stating how he was planning on changing his swing.
Why change a winning formula when you are in the form of your life.
Genuinely thought it was a comedy sketch.He is mentally shot and has never shown himself to be the toughest in that department. Hes "Too nice" imho. I never got over how after winning one of his majors, he gave an interview stating how he was planning on changing his swing.
Why change a winning formula when you are in the form of your life.
It's no secret why he changed his swing, he's been asked why a million times and a million times has given a long detailed honest answer. Because he reckoned he needed to, he'd won 3 majors but believed if he was going to consolidate his position, go after tiger & phil, challenge to be the world no.1, he had to start making changes. Main thing he wanted was 15-20 yards extra off tee and seemed to get that, but at the cost of some accuracy.
Of course, it's so easy to sit here and this remove and criticise him for it. But didn't tiger completely reconstruct his swing with Butch Harmon not long after he'd become world no.1 back in his early days? And hasn't he made significant alterations with the new guy he's been using over the past two or three seasons? Seems that most golfers are always tinkering, never happy, not just harrington
Of course, it's so easy to sit here and this remove and criticise him for it. But didn't tiger completely reconstruct his swing with Butch Harmon not long after he'd become world no.1 back in his early days? And hasn't he made significant alterations with the new guy he's been using over the past two or three seasons? Seems that most golfers are always tinkering, never happy, not just harrington
Padraig "nobody has won more majors than me since 2007" Harrington.
“In my opinion Padraig Harrington has got as strong a mind as anyone who ever lived…Padraig is not the most naturally gifted golfer, but he has got the most out of his game..because of the strength of mind that he has. I think he has got the strongest mind in golf.”
The above statement from caddy David McNeilly who he unceremoniously dumped, that statement does seem to fly in the face of the current state of Harringtons game and head?.
“In my opinion Padraig Harrington has got as strong a mind as anyone who ever lived…Padraig is not the most naturally gifted golfer, but he has got the most out of his game..because of the strength of mind that he has. I think he has got the strongest mind in golf.”
The above statement from caddy David McNeilly who he unceremoniously dumped, that statement does seem to fly in the face of the current state of Harringtons game and head?.
I admire your loyalty to Harrington Vubiant-he is a real hero if genuinely flawed in recent times. I will him on everytime I see him in action and who can ever forget the gritted-teeth/dilated pupils TV shot that showed when he was truly in the zone.
I'm an non-golfer (an ex-golfer in fact who hated the "clubbiness" and believe in the old adage that it ruined a good walk) but Harrington's attempts to re-invent himself fly in the face of logic to me. It's one thing, presumably, to tweak certain aspects of your game but another entirely to change entirely how you play the game. Pesumably, you need some natural attributes that complement the sport of your choice-not too many dwarves played for the Harlem Globetrotters.
For years, we've heard how he changes his swing and, more recently, its been experimenting with eye aids, intentionally putting on weight (if he has a paunch we can presume he didn't want to go the steroid route) and now using the famous "yips" implement.
One of my favourite sports books ever is Matthew Syed's "Bounce" about "the myth of talent and the power of practice" - the famous ten thousand hours of practice when you are young and how practice is generally everything. To my mind dramatically changing how you accomplish any task is inimical to how you learned to play a sport and hone your talent and it seems illogical. Harrington won three majors, should have won more but somehow believed that chasing the demi-god that was Tiger Woods was more important than his raw, natural practiced talent.
Sad!
I'm an non-golfer (an ex-golfer in fact who hated the "clubbiness" and believe in the old adage that it ruined a good walk) but Harrington's attempts to re-invent himself fly in the face of logic to me. It's one thing, presumably, to tweak certain aspects of your game but another entirely to change entirely how you play the game. Pesumably, you need some natural attributes that complement the sport of your choice-not too many dwarves played for the Harlem Globetrotters.
For years, we've heard how he changes his swing and, more recently, its been experimenting with eye aids, intentionally putting on weight (if he has a paunch we can presume he didn't want to go the steroid route) and now using the famous "yips" implement.
One of my favourite sports books ever is Matthew Syed's "Bounce" about "the myth of talent and the power of practice" - the famous ten thousand hours of practice when you are young and how practice is generally everything. To my mind dramatically changing how you accomplish any task is inimical to how you learned to play a sport and hone your talent and it seems illogical. Harrington won three majors, should have won more but somehow believed that chasing the demi-god that was Tiger Woods was more important than his raw, natural practiced talent.
Sad!
Know David McNeilly , Nick's caddie when I was a regular attender at golf on course events . Good caddie . Padraig "swopped" him for his brother in law .
Have recounted before a happening from some 2 years ago when a friend was playing in an invitational event with Padraig and several other pros . Following the event , a long driving bit of craic was suggested , and Padraig sent off for a specific driver from his car . It was one of 14 approx in the car . Make your mind up time !
The swing you grew up will retain its characteristics ( particularly under pressure ) even if you tinker with it subsequently . Thats why Rory will never have a bad swing , its ingrained and only requires minor adjustment when you change something ( or your body responds to physical changes you are not even aware of -- eg growing up ) .
Have recounted before a happening from some 2 years ago when a friend was playing in an invitational event with Padraig and several other pros . Following the event , a long driving bit of craic was suggested , and Padraig sent off for a specific driver from his car . It was one of 14 approx in the car . Make your mind up time !
The swing you grew up will retain its characteristics ( particularly under pressure ) even if you tinker with it subsequently . Thats why Rory will never have a bad swing , its ingrained and only requires minor adjustment when you change something ( or your body responds to physical changes you are not even aware of -- eg growing up ) .
Once upon a time , Padraig was the best putter in the world , certainly for those 10-12 footers which can make or break a round . Padraig had laser surgery at least once , jury still out on that long term in my book , now he is trying glasses . Visual acuity is one of the biggest factors in golf , particularly in reading putts etc , and judging distance vis a vis distance/ hand /eye co-ordination which all the top guys ( including Padraig ) had .
Lots of the modern pros cant play a 60 yard pitch and run , all their shots are "programmed" via distance sheets and specific clubbing distances , which is one of the biggest reasons most of them cant play well in wind , they have not got the "feel " that was part and parcel of golf in the "old days " . Padraig does not fit that condition , he can play in wind , but when the putting deteriorates , doubt seeps through your game . Even struck Tiger for a couple of seasons , but his putting has improved , and so has his game .
Lots of the modern pros cant play a 60 yard pitch and run , all their shots are "programmed" via distance sheets and specific clubbing distances , which is one of the biggest reasons most of them cant play well in wind , they have not got the "feel " that was part and parcel of golf in the "old days " . Padraig does not fit that condition , he can play in wind , but when the putting deteriorates , doubt seeps through your game . Even struck Tiger for a couple of seasons , but his putting has improved , and so has his game .
gone at the game for now,will be back imo just needs a few more tweaks
I second RA's recommendation of Matthew Syed's book "Bounce" about "the myth of talent and the power of practice".
How come there is no discussion of Harrington's gambling issues on here? Perhaps there was back in the day, I don't recall.
How come there is no discussion of Harrington's gambling issues on here? Perhaps there was back in the day, I don't recall.
If Padraig ever had a big gambling problem , cant say I was ever aware of it . Only ones who could comment on that are those close to him .
A triple major winner should always be financially secure , and BEFORE he won majors Padraig was no 7 on the yearly earnings list . Winning majors must have pushed him up that league , at least for about 5 seasons .
Just sad to see him struggling , everybody likes Padraig as far as I can glean , not the fastest player I have seen , but thats not particularly relevant . Hopefully he will be back , but cant figure out the par 5 bit , its a mystery .
A triple major winner should always be financially secure , and BEFORE he won majors Padraig was no 7 on the yearly earnings list . Winning majors must have pushed him up that league , at least for about 5 seasons .
Just sad to see him struggling , everybody likes Padraig as far as I can glean , not the fastest player I have seen , but thats not particularly relevant . Hopefully he will be back , but cant figure out the par 5 bit , its a mystery .
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