Woods backs Harrington’s swing changes

TIGER WOODS has again backed Pádraig Harrington for seeking changes in his swing that will make the Irishman an even better player.

Although they didn’t discuss the subject – or apparently very much anything else either – when they played together in the US Open at Bethpage last month, Woods said at the time that he understood what Harrington was trying to do, even if he did miss the halfway cut by six shots. He reiterated that view again yesterday although he avoided any mention of Harrington’s five successive missed cuts and poor run of form that has seen him slip from 3rd at the beginning of the year to 14th in the world rankings.

“We didn’t talk a whole lot while we were playing at Bethpage as we were both focused on what we were trying to do,” said Woods. “At the time he was struggling a little bit. He grinded pretty hard and getting up and down from where he was on the second day was pretty phenomenal.

“As far as changing your swing, we’re all trying to get better, we’re all making changes. The game is fluid. It’s always evolving. You’re trying to make adjustments here and there to get yourself to the next level. You can see Paddy is changing his swing and the hard part for him is doing it in front of everyone. I’ve been through it before. Sometimes it can be a little difficult because you get questioned quite a bit. But you have to understand the big picture for yourself.”

Woods’s frustration at failing to capitalise on promising positions in the final rounds of both the Masters and US Open was palpable and he was making no attempt yesterday to conceal his disappointment. So his attempt to overtake Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major championships is no easier than it was when he captured his 14th in the US Open at Torrey Pines in June 2008.

He had won his last tournament before both the Masters and US Open and he has now come to Turnberry in the same situation, having triumphed in his own AT&T event a fortnight ago.

“Yeah, it’s been a tremendous season so far,” he said. “I remember thinking ahead of the year if I’d be able to get back playing at a high level. And if I was to say I’d have three wins halfway through, people would have said I might be reaching a bit. Granted I haven’t won a major but I’ve come close. I’ve put myself in position to win the first two, I just haven’t done it. It’s a case of playing well at the right time.

“Hopefully I can hit the ball like I hit it in the AT&T at Congressional and putt the same as well. But you’re playing different shots over here. You’re not hitting the ball the same way. You’ve got to manoeuvre the ball differently and make some adjustments.”

Woods took to links golf like a duck to water from the very first time he came to Britain and Ireland but this is his first visit to Turnberry. He has had three practice rounds and insists he likes what he has seen.

“The course is fantastic and is in great shape,” he declared. “The rough is up a little bit although we haven’t had the big winds yet. All in all, it is a fabulous golf course. You can understand why Tom Watson, Greg Norman and Nick Price – some of the best ball strikers of all time and certainly in their eras – have won at Turnberry.

“I don’t think I’m at a disadvantage because I haven’t played here before. You just have to do more homework in your practice rounds. I’ve had basically the same wind but from three different directions in each of my three practice rounds. That was nice for it gives you a different bit of feel for how the golf course is playing. I’ve just got to make sure I do my homework because I can’t rely on past years experience.

“I fell in love with links golf right away. I played Carnoustie and St Andrews, my first two right out of the gate and it doesn’t get much better than that. I fell in love with being able to use the ground as my friend, as an ally. We don’t get to do that in the States. Everything is up in the air. Here you have a shot from 150 yards and you have so many options of how to play it.”

Woods is a 9/4 favourite to win this week. The nearest to him in the betting is Sergio Garcia at 18/1. It doesn’t mean he’s a certainty to win but you certainly can see where the bookmakers are coming from.