More than a mind guru? For the past couple of days, Dr Bob Rotella has been like a shadow to Padraig Harrington. No matter where you venture at Winged Footed, the sports psychologist and the player appear inseparable. On the chipping area, there he is, behind his star pupil. On the putting green, there he is, all smiles, behind his man. On the driving range, there he is, a breath of fresh air, behind the Dubliner.
This is what happens in the week of a major, as Harrington seeks to clear his mind and gain a focus. In many ways, Harrington is long overdue a good major.
You have to go back to the US Open at Olympia Fields in 2003, when he backed into the position, for his last top-10 finish in a major. It seems a long time since 2002, a near-golden season, when he had two top-fives (at the US Masters and the British Open) and a tied-eighth finish in the US Open, at Bethpage.
Last year was a write-off in terms of the majors. He missed the cut in the three he played in, and didn't play in the British Open due to the death of his father, Paddy. This is the 32nd major of Harrington's career, but he comes in here without a tour win in over a year and a season where he has had only one top-10 finish, in last month's BMW Championship at Wentworth.
Results may not back him up, but Harrington's logic is he is playing better now than he did last season (when he had two wins in the US at this stage of the season).
"I obviously haven't had any wins or top threes but, in terms of consistency, I've been there. It just hasn't been erratically good, that's all that's happened to me this year . . . . yes, I won twice (last year), but I had loads of brutal finishes. This year, I've had none of the wins, but no brutal finishes. Nothing particularly good, but consistent," he said.
Many of the swing changes Harrington has undertaken in his career have been designed so he can play US Open-style courses, where high ball flight is required for approaches to greens. He's also a player who tends to perform better on tough courses, and especially on courses that suit his eye. So, a liking for the West Course at Winged Foot bodes well.
"It's a very, very playable course," attested Harrington. "You know the rough is fierce, so it's hit the fairway, hit the middle of the green. There's no hole out here that's unplayable, every hole is reasonable. You know, the last time I was here (the US PGA in 1997), it felt intimidating.
"Now, I realise, you stand on every hole and it is there in front of you and you've got to hit the shots. I don't think anybody should fear this course. You go to some courses and you think, 'God this hole is horrible', or 'I can't play it'. There is no hole like that here. It's a long, big course but that doesn't breed fear into me. You just hit it long, hit it straight . . . If you were to hit the middle of every fairway, the middle of every green, you'd win this."
It sounds like a simple game plan. The tough part is to implement it. Over to you, Dr Rotella.
Selected tee times
USA unless stated, all times Irish
STARTING AT HOLE ONE
1222 DJ Trahan, Graeme McDowell (NIrl), Nick Dougherty (Eng)
1233 David Toms, Shingo Katayama (Jpn), Vijay Singh (Fij)
1244 Chad Campbell, Adam Scott (Aus), Jim Furyk
1306 Fred Couples, Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa), Mike Weir (Can)
1328 Colin Montgomerie (Sco), John Cook, David Duval
1803 Jay Haas, Joey Sindelar, Tom Lehman
1825 Edoardo Molinari (Ita), Tiger Woods, Michael Campbell (Nzl)
1847 Stephen Ames (Can), Peter Jacobsen, Darren Clarke (NIrl)
STARTING AT HOLE 10
1244 Scott Verplank, Ian Poulter (Eng), Lucas Glover
1255 Phil Mickelson, Tim Clark (Rsa), Thomas Bjorn (Den)
1306 Rory Sabbatini (Rsa), Paul McGinley (Irl), Rich Beem
1317 Luke Donald (Eng), Trevor Immelman (Rsa), Zach Johnson
1328 Retief Goosen (Rsa), Stewart Cink, Padraig Harrington (Irl)
1836 Stuart Appleby (Aus), Sergio Garcia (Spa), Charles Howell III
