Figures Add up for Accountant Padraig
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RyderCup 04 Irishchallenge 19-21 September, 2008 Figures add up for accountant Padraig By Frank Malley prestigious tournaments. More likely, ing for Ireland at matchplay.Inever Harrington has been sent out in the when they are drawn against the popu- lost asingles match and, given that all first pair in the morning fourballs in lar Irishman, they will remember the the players Iwas beating were turning the last two meetings with America. ADRAIG HARRINGTON brings raking approach to the 17th green at pro, Ithought: ‘why not me?’ Both times he has partnered Colin many things to the European Birkdale, which set up an eagle virtu- “Even now,Ithink my focus is so Montgomerie, and the pair famously P Ryder Cup team. ally to clinch the Open. much better at matchplay than at beat star duo Woods and Mickelson, Among them are an amiable nature It will take some mighty blow to strokeplay.Myaccountant’straining four years ago. and the gift of the blarney,asyou beat that as the golf shot of the year. gets in my way when every shot Whoever he partners this time in might expect from someone who hails That Open back nine, which he counts. Everything is so calculated, Kentucky,captain Nick Faldo from Ballyroan, Dublin. completed in four under in the most whereas in matchplay Ican freewheel. can rely on his star man setting Another is an eye for precision in testing of conditions, announced him “I love the fact it really is one shot the tone for the rest of the preparation and competition, which as one of golf’s huge talents, aplayer at atime, that you’ve only got one team. comes from his accountancy training, capable of walking the corridors of opponent to worry about, rather than aprofession in which he would have greatness every bit as much as players 155. Ithink I’m agood scrambler too, carved out aliving had he not taken up such as America’sPhil Mickelson. which is very distracting for the golf. He more than confirmed that by opposition. But mostly,when the Europe team adding the US PGA at Oakland Hills “Put it this way: if every tournament roll into the Valhallah Golf Club in last month, making it three Majors was matchplay rather than strokeplay, Louisville, Kentucky,hewill supply from the last six. I’d be amuch better player.” credibility.Major credibility. Harrington could never have His three Majors would appear to Last time, at the KClub in Harring- dreamed of that when he turned pro 12 contradict that, but there is areason ton’shome town of Dublin, Jose years ago, the same year Tiger Woods Maria Olazabal was the only European set offinpursuit of his legend. RYDER CUP FACT team member to have won aMajor,in He said: “The extent of my ambition the Spaniard’scase two US Masters. was to keep improving and hope that Foursomes is whereone member of This time it is Harrington who has one day Iwould be good enough to each side tees off, then his partner two Open championships in his locker, become ajourneyman golfer.” plays the next shot and so on. and aUSPGA title to boot. TwoClaret What singled him out as apotential On the next tee,itisthe player Jugs, one won in 2007 and the other champion, however,was his ability to who hit the second shot on the first this July at Royal Birkdale, which play under pressure and, in particular, hole who drives. made him the first European golfer his penchant for matchplay. In fourballs, all four players play since James Braid in 1906 to retain the It surfaced when he helped the their ownball and the playerwith trophy. Great Britain and Ireland team win the the lowest scoreoneach hole wins No longer can the Americans mock Walker Cup in 1995. He says: “I turned the hole. Europe’sbarren streak in golf’s most pro on the strength of what Idid play- McDowell swaps airwaves for fairways this time By Mark Garrod two years ago, he will not be asked the previous best of Tiger Woods on to the last automatic spot, even to commentate this time. He will at and Luke Donald, and it was with though he had controversially WORKING for aradio station at last be thereonthe fairways hitting Donald as ateammate that taken the week off to go hunting. the last Ryder Cup was Graeme the shots. McDowell helped Britain and No worries this time, though. The McDowell’sway of punishing The only real surprise is that it Ireland to only their second win on former Irish amateur champion himself. has taken this long. American soil in the Walker Cup. won in Korea in March and The Portrush golfer had set his During his time at the University That was in 2001. In 2002 he overcame not making it into either heart on being at the first-ever of Alabama, McDowell was ranked turned professional with a the Masters or US Open by match on Irish soil, but playing in the top college player handicap of plus-four and in only following athird place finish in the it, rather than reporting on it, had in the United States his fourth European Tour outing as European Open with victory at the been the objective. after aseason apro he beat Trevor Immelman to Scottish Open seven days later. “I felt flat and disappointed which featured the Scandinavian Masters title. Knowing all that was at stake at inside,” recalls McDowell six wins from 10 The victory came too late to Loch Lomond he said: “I felt as (pictured).“That was alittle kick starts. make him acontender for that nervous as I’ve ever been on agolf in the backside, and forced me to His stroke year’s cup match because the team course with six holes to play,but I put atwo-year plan into average of 69.6 had been chosen the previous year managed to hit some great shots ‘‘ place. per round beat and had been forced to wait 12 under pressure. Isometimes feel The Irish have abit of “I got anew caddie, new coach months because of the September I’ve flown under the radar during and returned to working with 11 terrorist attacks. my six years on tour,soit’sabit of an affinity with the my old sports psychologist.” But come 2004, he entered the adream to do this. tournament, so getting He also decided on achange of final event in Germany still in with “As for the Ryder Cup, that will management company,leaving the achance of grabbing afirst cap. be pretty special too. The Irish to be apart of that will stable which provided athird of McDowell ended the race with have abit of an affinity with the the last team in Lee Westwood, around of 62, the lowest of his tournament, so getting to be apart be extra special ‘‘ Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley Tour career,but his first of that will be extra special.” and David Howell. three rounds had left him The major objective for this year Now,having come close to a deep in the pack, and it has been achieved. Now the focus is debut four years ago and having was not enough. Jose on giving his replacement on the been so dejected at missing out Maria Olazabal hung radio something to shout about. Be PGA PROactive. Forcoaching, advice and equipment give your PGA PRO agoVisit: www.pga.info.