USPGA Harrington Meltdown

Senenpeter

What the hell happened last night on the 8th?!

Why didn't Ronan slow him down before his drop shot, he completely rushed it. Coming hot out of the rough in the water was tough to watch. Although he played incredibly well for the tournament, can he really take any positives from the USPGA???

One of the hardest things I've ever had the watch to be honest...

Adiaga 2

If something very similar didn't happen last week then it would have been a killer watch. He had a 9 at the Masters too this year. After playing so well on saturday to undo it all one hole must have been painful. I don't think he's the type of player to let something like this affect him too much. I think he can take a lot of positives from the last 2 weeks and if he continues to play like this I can see him winning something before the end of the season.

stockdam

The positives are that he got into the position to win which is way more than the others did.

His first shot at the 8th was just a bad shot and he was unlucky that it was at the 8th - at other holes he probably would have walked off with a par. However his next shot (his third) was inexcusable. It was a simple pitch with a wedge that he should have put to less than 10 feet. If this wedge shot had been his second to a par 4 then I think he'd have played it well - however he let his mind wander and then tugged the shot and completely missed the green.

If he had played a good third shot then he may have walked off with a bogey or maybe a double. However he seemed to play it as a high handicapper would - no confidence and a fear of playing a bad shot (which always results in a bad shot).

What he needed to do was to remind himself that he is a good player and that a short wedge is an easy shot for him.

Blunder

I think he had forgotten to some extent about it as he was coming off the 18th if his interaction with the crowd was anything to go by and the fact he nearly took out a rules official and marshal with his attempt to throw his ball into the crowd!

These things happen sometimes in golf. Tiger shot 75 with 33 putts on the final day of a major that he had led after 54 holes and was outscored by his playing partner by 5 shots despite him being relatively unknown. The fact he was in contention two weeks in a row against tiger in big tournaments probably highlights it more. If he had done it as a back marker in the field then I would imagine that there would be nothing more than a passing comment on it.

There are plenty of positives to be taken from this two weeks: His short game, especially his putting, is back very close to where it should be, barring of course the 3 loose shots that cost him 8's. The played brilliant golf for 142 of the 144 holes over the last few weeks. Two top 10s in two of the biggest tournaments of the year. He's cemented his place in the top 60 for the race to dubai and has probably given himself a good boost in the fed ex cup.

Like Adaiga 2, I can also see him winning before the end of the year.

Onwards and upwards.

Myksyk

Completely ruined my "feet-up-beer-in-hand-remote-to-myself" night in! Excruciating! Still think he's close to showing the form required for more majors.

Hogzy

Anyone know if this video is available anywhere, cant find it on youtube?

stockdam

I agree that Harrington's putting was very good.

There'll be weeks when everything clicks and I like the way he seems to have forgotton about the bad holes.

bigtimecharlie

In fairness, Harrington had a 78 compared to Woods 75 so 17 good holes is ruined by one disaster. His round overall was solid, 7 pars to start and I thought that he was getting momentum, a birdie would have helped him.

Overall, the last 2 tournaments were lost on one hole, so alot better that the 5 missed cuts in a row earlier in the season. His race to Dudai place is assured and so should his FedEx cup race.

I also can see him winning before year end.

CLADA

Senenpeter wrote: »

Why didn't Ronan slow him down before his drop shot, he completely rushed it. Coming hot out of the rough in the water was tough to watch. ...

I thought the same but was watching again today and in fairness to Flood he did step in and stop Harrington rushing the drop in the rough. You just see him putting his hand out to stop him before the camera cuts to another angle.

Watching the highlights just showed how close McIlroy came.

BeeSee

CLADA wrote: »

Watching the highlights just showed how close McIlroy came.

tied 3rd is some achievement. was one great clip last night when mcilroys name came up on the screen but it appeared the producers had picked the wrong camera to show the shot, all you could see was a close up of grass. next thing rorys head appears up out of the bunker and the ball rolls up near the flag, he played some lovely stuff, especially after starting double bogey.

paddy's swing is obviously coming around. have to say i was gutted when he screwed up, but at least it was still interesting seeing the power of the multi-coloured golf grips over come the tiger!

Stella89

Hogzy wrote: »

Anyone know if this video is available anywhere, cant find it on youtube?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IJKUJWOi8A

Padraigs views on what happened .

http://www.pga.com/pgachampionship/2009/news/harrington_081609.cfm