Angry Goose tamed by army discipline
Retief Goosen believes a spell in the army got rid of the fiery temper which once saw him break three clubs in nine holes.
The ultra laid-back South African, who lies two shots off the lead going into today’s third round of the Linde German Masters, is the least likely player to throw a tantrum on the golf course.
But in a week which saw Sergio Garcia fined for kicking an advertising board in Switzerland and Ian Poulter warned for twice slamming his club into the ground, Goosen revealed he was not always so calm and controlled.
“I was a pretty bad tempered junior,” admitted the double US Open champion after rounds of 67 and 68 for a nine-under-par halfway total left him two behind England’s Anthony Wall and Jose Maria Olazabal at Gut Larchenhof.
“I used to throw and break clubs and I remember once breaking three clubs in nine holes but I had to pay for the shafts with my pocket money so I learned not to break them any more,” he said.
“Maybe the army sorted me out, two years in the army made me a little more disciplined.
“I have my moments now where I bitch a little bit but all golfers do that. I sometimes get a bit too hard on myself and talk myself down because this game can get to you easily.
“But you have to just keep grinding away because you are going to hit a few bad shots and it’s not always going to be great.”
Wall shot the lowest round of the day with a flawless 62 and even had a first sub-60 score on the European Tour in his sights after six birdies in his opening six holes.
Another birdie on the 17th – he started on the 10th – took him out in just 29 but the Londoner could only manage three more for an 11-under-par total of 133.
Olazabal was almost as impressive with a 65 while Ryder Cup star Paul Casey confirmed his return to top form after a long slump with a second consecutive 67 to lie one shot behind.
“After I birdied the 10th I did fancy my chances of a 59,” said Wall, the son of a London taxi driver. “But you always seems to hit a brick wall in golf.
“My swing felt great so I was firing at every pin no matter where it was. I had a few chances but it was a lovely day for me so I can’t complain.
“I shot 71 in the first round and that was a great score because I played like a wally. I concentrated so hard on Friday it almost hurt because I didn’t want to go home so soon. There’s two weeks off after this so it would have left a sour taste.”
