Dermot: Golf

Padraig Harrington's Glory. Sport is the Winner!

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 20:55:45 GMT

Sport has an amazing ability to put you through the wringer and, as a keen follower of far too many sports I have been subject to such agonies on a regular basis, whether it be with Yorkshire and England cricket, Hull City, Arsenal and both Ireland and England, Hull FC and GB+ Ireland Lions, Munster and Ireland plus the Union Lions, and of course golf via the Majors, the Ryder Cup and recently with Justin Rose.
A lot of agony with those choices, but also some really fun times which make it all worthwhile.
Padraig Harrington’s amazing win at Carnoustie which was the climax of one of the finest Open Championships in recent times, and once Justin (whom I taught at Robert May’s School) was out of the hunt there was only one man for me and that was the immensely talented and likable Irishman.
His acceptance speech told you all you needed to know about the man. Quiet and understated, yet confident and giving the plaudits to the unsung heroes that make the Open such a great event. The volunteers, the green staff and above all the fans.
Harrington came to my attention in the mid ‘Nineties when he broke through onto the European Tour lifting the Spanish Open in his first year and making his Ryder Cup debut in the ill feted Brookline Match of 1999, but he had gone on to be the nearly man so many times, thus when he found the notorious Burn on the 18^th I had a sinking feeling….
I felt so sorry for Sergio Garcia. The guy has cohones, as his compatriots would say, as having led for much of the event he somehow overcame the potential implosion of losing three shots mid round, to end up in a play off as he lipped a putt on the 18^th. I was sure it was down as the brilliant TV pictures showed the every contour of the eight footer but it stayed out and by such small margins greatness is won or lost.
But Padraig overcame his nerves the best in the playoff, despite missing a six footer on the third extra hole which would have killed Sergio’s hopes, and playing the last too conservatively. But by that stage the Spaniard was spent and it was a bogey that won the Jug in the end.
Somehow an appropriate, if not a particularly fitting end to a day of sublime golf, mixed with some shots that shattered hopes.
I was glad the usual suspects were absent from the top of the Leaderboard, making it an exciting and unexpected few hours of really gold quality competition which epitomised why sport is so great.
Some butt clenchers (in no particular order).
Kiwah Island Ryder Cup 1991. Langer’s putt (missed).
Ireland v Spain penalty shoot out 2002. (Lost).
Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal 26/05/1989.
Second Test V SA when the Lions clinched the series win against the defending World Champions.
Kelly Holmes on the home straight of the 800 metres in 2004 Olympics.
The whole of the 2005 Ashes Series (after the obligatory Lords debacle.
Munster’s march to the European Cup in 2006.
City needing to beat Burnley 3 zip to go up in 1984. We won two nil.
Redgrave’s final Gold in Sydney.
The first thirteen seconds of the RL Ashes 2004. Morley got sent off. Series over.

Plus countless other moments….

Darren Clarke: A True Hero. Europe 18 1/2 USA 9 1/2

Sun, 24 Sep 2006 19:18:10 GMT

Europe swept to a resounding victory in this, the most atmospheric and emotional Ryder Cup I can ever remember, the climax of the day saw Darren Clarke gain his third win to maintain his 100% record in this years Tournament.
There aren’t enough words to describe adequately the character of the man, but I find him a total inspiration and I admit that I was awash with emotion, a huge lump in the throat and a few tears were shed as he took the plaudits of the massed galleries, his team mates and the USA players who conducted themselves to a man with decorum at every turn this week thus washing away the sour taste of Brookline for ever.
Tragedy is a word bandied about and devalued all the more for it, especially by sportsmen, but Darren knows the true meaning of the word and is a beacon of hope for all of us who have experienced a time of shattering heartbreak and seemingly unbearable sadness.
In the wake of my Mum’s truly tragic demise in 1987 I wondered how I would ever put my life together again, and Clarke must have had those familiar emotions as his beloved Heather slipped away from him and his kids barely a month ago.
But he has proved that the old chestnut “Life Goes On” is so true as he grieved first in private and then declared himself available for selection late in August, playing some of the best golf of his career here to inspire the ultimate victory.
Thank you Darren, for showing us that no matter what happens, life is to be lived and people are to be loved and the best way really is to bloody well get on with it and feed of the love of others to make the best of what life has to offer.

You are a hero in the real sense of the word.

Europe 10 USA 6/ City/ Yorks Survive.

Sat, 23 Sep 2006 18:52:42 GMT

Europe raced into a 10-6 overnight lead reflecting another day of domination for Ian Woosnam’s side at the Ryder Cup.
Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood set the tone with a 3&2 defeat of a wretched Tiger Woods, the US pair only avoided total humiliation due to the doughty performance of Jim Furyk, whose ugly but effective and repeating swing stood up to the abysmal weather and growing pressure as the World Number One continued to flounder in this format.
Whilst I’m full of admiration for Woods who is a model pro and surely the greatest ever, there is nothing about the man that endears him to me and I always have a sneaky grin when he messes up or, as today, just loses the plot.
Fair play and credit where it’s due though as he came out fighting in the afternoon session and led by example with a 3&2 win with Furyk over the Irish pairing of Harrington and McGinlay.
This, however was the US teams only post lunch victory as the first game saw Luke Donald produce a masterful pressure putt on 16 to help secure a 2&1 win in a hard fought battle with Sergio, the Spaniard delivering blistering approach to set up the putt, against the formidable if erratic US pair of Toms and Mickleson, the later Woods like in this Tournament. Inexplicable.
Then Casey finished a 5&4 massacre with a hole in one as Monty and Westwood secured a half against Chad Campbell and impressive rookie Vaughan Taylor.
Lehman’s pairings and tactics have been awful as, unlike Woosie, he has been unable to be imaginative and think outside the box, reliance on Woods and Big Phil has been their undoing in the last two outings.
Clarke’s chip in at 16 in the morning outshines Casey’s ace for me as the shot of the day, it was a match winning effort under butt clenching pressure.
Four points clinches it, but we all know what this game can be like…..
At least one member of my family will be doubly elated tonight (on top of the golf) as QPR dumped City to the foot of the table with a 2-0 win.
That old chestnut Karma again after my dissing of Donagh after the Wednesday game saw us root the R’s to the bottom? Maybe.
My cousin supports Rangers from a Limerick base due to Don Givens, until recently Ireland’s most prolific marksman, who of course played for the (far from) Super Hoops (embarrassing but true nickname, I must give up the brackets) in their 70’s heyday.
He met Givens and shook his hand. I would have chinned him for causing 30 years worth of mental anguish. At least I never had a choice of teams…
On a lighter note Yorkshire stayed up by a point due to the heroics of Darren Lehmann and his astonishing knock 339 which fell only 4 short of the overall Club record, but is the highest recorded knock at Headingley.

Europe 5 USA 3: Ryder Cup Day One

Fri, 22 Sep 2006 18:37:18 GMT

Europe take a 5-3 lead into the second day of the Ryder Cup after Colin Montgomerie holed the last putt of the day to earn a half with Lee Westwood.
An error strewn final hour saw the enormous pressure that only this Blue Riband of Golf Tournaments can produce, come to bear and very few players proved immune.
Monty splashed down on 16, Sergio produced a horridly skimmed chip on 18, and Harrington first of all pulled a drive into the rough and then compounded his error with a heavy chip which ballooned 20 foot past leaving his partner, the ever impressive McGinley no chance. Such a shame for the 2002 hero as he had given his team every opportunity, holing nervelessly on 17 to keep the match alive.
The Americans joined the party, Furyk in the drink on 18 and Big Phil Mickleson shanking on 17.
I managed to drag myself off the sofa for an hour or so at the beginning of the afternoon session to complete 20 lengths at the pool, but apart from that it was 12 hours solid hard work watching this, the ultimate sporting occasion.
Since 1985, this Tournament has been a must see for all true fans of sport as it encapsulates why we love competition.
Individual stories amongst the team ethic all played out in a cauldron of pressure as every shot is so vital.
Plus the enormous inter continental rivalry, given an extra edge in the wake of the American’s disgusting display at Brookline in 1999, when they mob handedly invaded the green after Leonard holed a putt despite Olazabal having a chance to level matters.
I remember so many great, great moments of sheer elation matched by despair.
The most dramatic has to be Langer’s final putt in the “War on the Shore” 1991 fixture, which produced a devastating miss.
The most pleasing? Probably Paul McGinlay’s putt to win the thing in 2002 and then his dive into the Belfry lake.
Monty’s final putt for the win in today's final foursome match must have hurt the American’s big time and gives us the psychological going into tomorrow.
Darren Clarke produced a master class of sang froid this morning in the wake of the tragic death of his wife Heather last month, and we were all willing the Ulsterman on, the collective vibe from the gallery was breathtaking as the Big Man smashed his opening tee shot up the first, setting up the birdie. Just brilliant.

Why I love Golf

Mon, 10 Apr 2006 20:20:14 GMT

Phil Mickelson strolled his second US Masters success but the final result was up in the air for the vast majority of this Tournament and it was only with the inability of others to put the pressure on in the final back nine, that the big lefty was able to relax and enjoy the adulation of the huge galleries.
Fred Couples made an unexpected challenge and at the age of 46 would have become one of the oldest winners had he not done the expected thing and choked by missing an absolute tiddler at the 12^th.
He has plenty of previous in this respect, the Ryder Cup in 89 springs readily to mind, and he only has one Major to show for a great talent, winning the Green Jacket in 1992.
This is one of the great attractions of golf to the sports fan as it really is blend of skill and nerve that is being tested. As a result it is never certain before a tournament about who is going to win, more unpredictable than say tennis or football.
The tension can be literally unbearable, worse than a penalty shoot out, especially when the Ryder Cup is up for grabs.
So many butt clenching moments, Langer in 1991 at Kiywah Island, Phillip Walton in 95 and of course Paul McKinlay at the Belfry in 2002 and his dip in the lake that followed.
Who can forget Van De Velde chucking away a three stroke advantage at Carnoustie at the climax of the Open in 1999, ending up barefoot in an vain attempt to exit the burn that had claimed his ball. The relative un known Paul Lawrie claiming the crown in a play off to show volatile nature of this game.
As for the Masters high points for the Brits include Lyle’s stupendous second to the 18^th out of a fairway bunker, replete with backspin to leave a nerve jangling six footer which the Scot nailed to send the late night Sunday audience wild.
It’s amazing to think how Lyle’s career completely imploded in subsequent years, leaving him feeling lucky to make the cut in mickey mouse Tour events despite winning the Open in 1985 (the first Brit since Jacklin in the sixties), contributing in back to back Ryder Cup triumphs as well as donning the Green Jacket.
Ian Baker-Finch is another, more extreme example of what golf can do to the psyche.
The Aussie had a near miss in the Open of 1984 (he led going into the final round but carded 79) but finally lifted the coveted Claret Jug in 1991, holding off a late charge American charge led by Couples and Mark O’Meara. The golfing world seemed at his feet, but fate took a nasty twist and he suffered a cataclysmic loss of form which culminated in the Major Winner quitting the game both on the Tour and for pleasure, in 1997.
Ian Woosnam’s only Major was landed at Augusta with the iconic image of the Welshman down on one knee punching the air in sheer unbelieving delight.
However the diminutive, yet exceedingly long hitter will forever be remembered for his caddie’s horrendous cock up in 2001, when handily placed going into day four, the bag man packed an extra club which cost a stroke, but more importantly his bosses cool and Woosie ended up carding a 71 on a day of low scores at a benign Lytham.
I was never much of a player only coming to it seriously from the age of 22, playing regularly for 10 years, mainly in Farnham and on the Isle of Man.
I got down to playing off 18 and recorded a miracle round at Mount Juliet on the Isle, including 3 birdies and NO lost balls!!!
A strange game for a Socialist? Absolutely. I have never seen such snobbery as that displayed on English private members courses.
My best moment was turning up at some snooty Country Club establishment near Southampton driving an old banger and parking between a Beemer and a Merc, only to see some jumped up bell boy come rushing over.
“You can’t park there mate!”
“I’m with the Hempsall Party”.
The guy’s jaw literally hit the floor, he went puce with embarrassment and carried my clubs into the locker room. Marvellous.
I read a brilliant tip by Greg Norman and it revolutionized my game.
Always take two clubs more than you need and swing at 75% of what you feel is required. Bingo.
If only I could have learnt how to putt…. And play a good short game…. And use a driver without shanking it into the car park at Blacknest…..
As I only watch the Majors and the Ryder Cup I invent totally false personas for the players based on nowt but predjudice, just to add a bit of interest.
Thus Corey Pavin and Tony Johnstone are the most irritating people you could imagine, driving their playing partners mad with hyperactive irrelevant chat.
Retief Goosen vows to beat his servants every time he makes a poor shot, whilst Couple is the cigar totting King of Cool and a Rat Pack Crooner in his spare time.
Woosnam is always battling the course handicapped by a monumental hangover and Nick Faldo is Darth Vader scaring his opponents into mental collapse (as happened to Norman in the 96 Masters).
And Jim Furyck is a fan who forged ID to get out on the course as he has the most untidy and amateurish swing you will ever see in Major golf. But it repeats and that's all that matters.
As for John Daly, he is a redneck alcoholic violents wife beater who is "longer than Norman, longer than Woods, longer than War And Peace". Oops that's true!
I used to like Mickelson in the early day, a fellow lefty with a languid swing and a short game to die for, but his appalling behaviour at the Brookline Ryder Cup when he led a mad charge across the green to congratulate a team mate (Mize I think) on a brilliant putt when Ollie had yet to go, sees him transformed into a Red Neck, Republican Neo Con Bush cheerleader. And he has crap hair.
My fave. No contest. Just watch Ernie Els’ swing and tell me a better sight in sport.