When Padraig Harrington BEAT Tiger Woods in the Walker Cup

When Padraig Harrington BEAT Tiger Woods in the Walker Cup

told it’s a 3-wood. Certainly has got a quite a small head on it. Quite difficult to tell, but uh that would be a good shot. Anyway, the point is here, you need to be up on the green. The pin is right at the very back, so you’ve got to give it everything you can to get up there. It’s no good being short cuz that’s a very difficult chip up here. Back of the old towel again. Yes, there we go. He’s got to be absolutely certain he’s absolutely right. It’s a critical match. and all square at the moment. So, we really he really wants to get him absolutely focused on what he’s trying to do. Got that going. He’s drilled that really up there. That might be even too big. It’s such a good shot. No, it’s it’s in the middle of the green. It hasn’t quite made it up to the top of the hill, but my goodness, that was a very good shot by Harrington. So, here’s Tiger Woods, who certainly won’t be hitting a 3-wood. He’s just 190 yards to go. I’ve been told is a six, which I find it very hard to believe even though I know how far this young man hits it. But uh it looks like a six and it’s got the flight of a six. That’s straight up on left hand edge of the green I suspect as I think it’s just missed the green on the left. Well, that may be in the bunker on the If it is and pitched in from the height it was traveling at, that might be plugged and it might be in a horrid place. the I think the um Irish pair are going to be a little disappointed when they come up that the ball isn’t nearer. I I get a feeling that Jody thought his ball was racing up there and that he’s within 10 or 12 ft of the hole when in fact they’re about the same distance away as they were at the last hole where they three putted from Dave. This uh this game finally finally poised. Well, all square at this point and a great shot by the Irish team obviously to put it on the grain out of that line. We’re not too sure if Tiger Wood’s shot did in fact go in the bunker, but uh now they’re just discovering cuz from where they were, they couldn’t tell where Harington’s ball finished, but they knew it was a good shot. They’ll take it on the green from where he was. Certainly in this point, a big point for both teams. Obviously, Great Britain and Ireland with eight points in hand. US team with seven. So a win for the US side would be 8 to8 obviously and then 9 to7 if the GBI side should win and that’s a big big change. John Harris of course a US amateur champion in 93. Tiger Woods has won it both years since then. John Harris undefeated in Walker Cup play. He’s won two points already here at Royal fourth call. So I’m sure that ball is in fact Yes, there it is in the bunker. So and plugged just as Peter said that sixiron going in nice and high which is all right except when it winds up in a bunker. So it looks like the see who is away. Tiger Woods saw the line. He knows what he’s done to his partner. Now the one good thing though is when Harris has to play this shot, he does have a lot of green. This ball will come out low and hot. So what he needs is just to make sure first you get over the bank, obviously get it on the green. I don’t know how Harris may try to play this shot, but you were trying to help someone learn this particular shot. You don’t worry so much about following through when it’s buried. This is a this is a very difficult bunker shot that John Harris has to play. Slightly on a downhill lie to start with. And of course, the sand now with all this rain is extremely wet, which makes it very difficult to control the ball. It’s probably going to come out pretty low out of there with a downhill lie. So, he’s got to be very careful with it. Michael, I think what you need to do in a case like that, if it were me, I do not play that with a sand iron. I take my pitching wedge so that I can get down into the sand because I’m not going to try to follow through. I’m going to try to hit down just behind the ball and make the ball pop up because as you point out with the downhill line, the buried situation, it tends to want to duck and go low on you. I think that’s He’s playing this with a sand iron. He’s playing it with the harder of the two clubs. Looks a pretty sharp one. We’ll know in the meantime. In a minute. That was not bad. Of course, now it is. I thought for a minute it wasn’t bad, but I’m sure he doesn’t like it too much now. But those are the mean little things that happen to you in golf and sometimes at very crucial moments. Well, now it looks to me as if let’s see which team Great Britain and Irish team I think is away. They’re acting as if it’s their move. can’t get his umbrella to bite. You can see the rain in your picture. So Fanigan and I would say from the side that the ball is going to break not a lot. Come ahead. Come ahead. Well a long way off. Certainly better off than the US side at this point. about four maybe five feet short in three. The American team in three. Well Dave, this is the kind of shot you don’t want in these circumstances. It’s pretty fluffy for a start, but of course it’s wet as well, which means it’s even more difficult to control the ball. But Tiger Woods has got a great touch as we know. But to get this close is going to require a shot of a real great quality. Interesting. He takes his glove off for this these short shots. Well, I think you get more feel if you take your glove off, but and also he’s got 19year-old nerves. Little speedy and they still may be away. That was very fast going that way, Michael. As you called, Tiger not happy. Of course, his second shot kind of put his partner in that position. where he didn’t have much of a shot from the bunker from the buried lie. This at the 15th to match all square. J John Harris. I said the US amateur champion. As a matter of fact, won the championship in Houston at the Champions Golf Club where I play a lot of golf. at that point his son who at that point was 12 years old caddied for him. So what a thrill to be with his father that week. All right, this for the for the five and a possible have but this is definitely at this point a must make for the US side. Looking good. Oh man, what a putt. That was some putt to make. Maybe that’s why he’s undefeated in Walker Cup play. Even when you do that, they make him hold the flag. I think Tiger should treat his elders a little better. Huh? I’ll put the flag in, sir. All right, now we’ve got Parig Harrington. Now this for the win to go one up. And again, now this putt very crucial. It was beginning to break what would be to the players’s left and your right as you look at it as it was losing speed. Now, will that be the line? Say just in the right edge. It doesn’t look that way from here, but I’m going to guess that’s what it is. It’s where he started it and that’s where it stayed. Didn’t break till past the hole. I tell you, the Americans escaped a trap there. What? Well, I didn’t know this was a stroke play event. I thought was that looks very short. But at any rate, that’s why you you’re not entitled to be given a putt. And from our angle, I can’t tell actually how short that is, but it should be just straight in. It’s too short to break if you hit it solid. Well, have in fives as they go to the 16T. two three putts in a row as well there David which won’t have done their confidence any good. It will have boosted if anything the Americans confidence with three holes left to play. 21 minutes from between the 14th green and the 15th which is fairly slow by even by modern standards and three holes left to play and still much to happen. What do you think Alex? Well, I agree with you. For one of the first times, this is uh the 16th hole. We’re looking back and you see halfway down the picture a sort of change of of light. That’s the ridge. Now, yesterday Tiger Woods with a tailwind took a driver and carried it 280 yards into the hollow. today. I think that uh with the fact that the wind is less I have a feeling that he’ll lay up short and hole has sort of been playing when they some any time someone will appear uh to play this T-shot Tiger Woods it’ll be to drive and Podri Harrington and the Irish of course a little bit dejected as you say Peter two three putts two consecutive three putts very costly there are the umbrella fellas of the players on the right there. And here’s Tiger. And let’s see if we can identify the club. He’s got a it’s a long iron. Yes, a long iron. A wonderful player to watch get on the practice ground and uh I have watched him on many occasions. Beautiful stillness in the wrists in the back swing. Tremendous amount of leg work. You watch the speed he accelerates through here. Did you see that? Just a blur, wasn’t it? Clipped it off the top of the teeg and I think it’s pretty straight. Here it comes. Left half of the fairway. And that will have covered about 240 or 50 yards that long iron down into the valley. You’re heading now for home. You’re heading towards the clubhouse. Podrick, what has he got? Bor silent D. Little adjustment of the grip there. See that? You see how he puts the club to the right and one of David Leb better’s teachings that is you put the club to the right and it adjusts your grip and it comes back stronger. picking the tea up quite sharply. So that’s a good sign out on the right half of the fairway coming in towards the middle. That’s a nice T- shot. And we’ll find out soon who’s got closer to the flag, whether it was the Irish driver or the American long iron. Very interesting swing. Tiger Woods. Now, this is a long iron. You see the beautiful posture. Lovely wide arc. No wrist action taking place yet. Just keep watching it. Not much wrist action now, is there? But yet a 90° turn. Still very little wrist action at the top. You see the runner line up his left forearm off the end of his knuckles and there’s no change of direction. And that is perfectly square. Now watch what happens to the lower body. Look at the right leg. Look at the adjustment in the footwork. He hasn’t got his feet untangled and through the shaft goes around his neck. And that really is some swing. It’s a a swing I think we will enjoy for many years to come and a lot of exciting things will happen to this young fella. Right down the middle. 250 yards with the one iron. Brown on the right hand side under the official umbrella. I fancy that’s the official Walker Cup umbrella. I do detect a few little surprise packages that have uh are creeping out on the course this week. But that is the official Broly I fancy. And uh Mr. Brown must be well he must be in many ways pleased with his troops. He’ll be a lot more pleased if this match finishes all square at the worst. But they’re a powerful pair. Harrison Woods Harington and Fanigan. They must put aside the fact they’ve three putted the last two greens, albeit from long range. And they were both short. They the first putts came at five, six feet short. So should they get another long putt, watch out for them perhaps belting it past. Those are the sort of things that can happen in match play. The psychological effects creep in. Pretty mly old green, isn’t it? But uh that’s the take all patch that struck here. Dry summer, too much alkaline. They say there’s no cure, but you try telling Jim after that. There’s a name to conjure with. Now, here they go. The boys from Ireland on the left. Looks to be slightly uphill. Now you there. You see he’s got the bunker. He’s not too far away from trouble. The American balls on the other side of the fairway. They were about equidistance, but suspect it might be the American, might be John Harris to play, but no, it’s definitely going to be the Irish pair. So the current score, eight for Great Britain and Ireland, seven to the United States. One match left out on the course at this moment. They’re all square. Second shots to the 16th. Ireland, great GB and I to play first. Well, Peter, crucial shot, I think, really here for Julie Fanigan. 185 yds to go. a wind coming from his left and also a heavy rain, I might add. The lie is good. Everything’s in good shape. This looks like a a four iron, I think. Probably maybe even one more. I think it’s a four iron. It looks like a 4 iron. And this it needs to be struck very crisply. It’s difficult green to hit. It might have been a little bit more than before with the flight of it, but it’s gone straight towards the left hand side of the flag. It was a great shot by Panigan there. Big cheers of delight around here for the supporters. So now we have uh John Harris’s shot which is just a couple of feet ahead of where the GBNI ball came to rest. He would have seen that. And uh he’s got a more difficult shot because the uh the bunker on the left hand side which is uh a lot higher. So he’s got to get it up really quite quickly. Although with a five iron which he has it shouldn’t be much of a problem. Ooh. Now that was a that was a top top. Gosh, that’s the early Sunday morning one. Wouldn’t doesn’t enjoy that one. And the old fingers start to tingle a bit with that. Now that is the door wide open for GB and I. Well, that should leave you at home feeling fairly good to see a shot that a lot of us have played in our lives. And uh I think John Harris maybe trying to get a little too cute with that shot or trying to get it up too fast, too high. Just simply missed the shot almost completely. just caught it then and actually lucky to get over the bunker that was in front of him. All right, we’ll have a look at this. Nice slow motion there. John Harris got it away a little outside like maybe he’s trying to cut the ball a little below parallel and now he’s squatted down and he’s going to lift right about here. And there it is. In case you’re wondering what some of my friends shots look like, I recognize that. And actually pretty lucky to get as I said through where the bunker was. So every shot at this point very crucial for both sides. It’s claws as you on the GBI team. That was a wonderful second shot with that four iron played by Jody Fanigan. believe Michael said it was a four, maybe a three, but uh once again the American team here very much on the defensive or in a bad uh situation as this is rain is really been coming down quite heavy the last 30 minutes. Move back to where Tiger Woods. All right, that’s the ball of the US side. match all square at this point, but uh US side in real danger of losing this hole. Tiger Woods, the much heralded youngster, 19 years old, US amateur champion, 94 and 95. Well, David, this is going to test this young man’s nerve. Not sure he’s got a nerve at his age. I must confess watching him. He’s got to hit this 100 yards near enough. And he can pitch it nearly all the way. Even though it’s out of the fluffy rough, it’s not too bad out of there. It might might just come out a little bit. So, he might allow for that, but it just be a sandwich. Oh, well that’s just the shot he’s been working on that he’s had so much trouble with and he saw him do that two or three times yesterday from a short shot. Blow it right through the green and his teacher Butch Harmon says they’ve been trying to work on the control of distance of his short shots which he obviously still needs to work on. That is a one weakness I’ve noticed in his particular golf game which is strong in so many ways. They probably certainly they’re still away. They’re missed the green that other side just some 15 or 20 feet from the flag. Now Harris. This will be the fourth shot. If they get out of this with a half, I will knit you a stove out of some steel wool. I said that’s that’s if they get a half and still the gallery stays out. Golf fans are absolutely marvelous. I mean, they come out, they walk miles around the course to see a few shots and and uh you know, if I’m sure if they played this slow at their club, they would be warned or kicked out of the club. The US team still away. This their fourth shot. John Harris to play. Of course, John a little bit the cause of their problems here because of the missed second shot. Of course, Tiger Woods didn’t help to cause any by knocking the short shot over the green. Arrington and Fanigan on the green in two. go on. But not a bad shot. Just the timing is a little bad. That’s the fourth shot. So the best they can make is a five. And even though the Great Britain side three putted the last two greens, that was from a long way off. This one I think I know they can handle. Parrick Harrington do the putting first and this for a birdie and a win. Two putts and a win. And this to go one up with two to play. As I said, this a very important point for both sides. [Music] Now that that’s all you want. That’s all you want. One up with two to play. Of course, a great second shot by Fanigan. A good iron shot off the tea by Harrington. So, one up and two to play. 17th green par five 511 yds a hold at dog legs to the left and just where that gentleman is walking on the right of your picture there a couple of deep pot bunkers waiting for anyone who cuts the corner. Three of them in fact. From the tea, you play up over uh quite a bank of Heather and Goss. And we look down to find the tea. And you can see the climb they make up over the the Goss if you choose to cut the corner a little bit. And the rain comes down. It really is serious rain. It’s no longer that soft drizzle we started the morning with. It’s and it’s not coming off the sea. It’s coming off the shoreline. The Irish pair have now established the the one hole lead and will it be enough? Booth even in this weather capable of getting up in two. It won’t be quite so easy with the wind coming from the left. Yesterday the wind was from behind on the right. Well, the glove is being dried. The the T-shots will be hit by uh Judy Fanigan of Ireland and John Harris of the United States. Give us gravy, J. All right. One up and two to play. Fanigan to drive. Well, it went suddenly silent that or that applause and it was because the ball started up. Okay. Then started to turn left. But in fact, it’s okay. Three bunkers guarding the front left of the par five could make it a rather tight second shot that one. Now, what about the experience? John Harris will call on here. Made two points yesterday. Oh, that’s that is really bad. That is not only tugged to the left. Uh the American flag there goes up to show you he’s in quite deep and Tiger Woods has a very very tough second shot with an Ireland ball. You see the marker there just 10 yards on the fairway and that looks pretty good now. Stranger on the shore. Where’s Zakabil? He’s not got many companions out there, has he? And he’s got a limp. What a shame. It’s funny how many seagulls have limps, isn’t it? When you uh go to the beach and you watch, they seem to get damaged quite a lot. Seagulls, you got to be careful when you’re walking in the shallows. Can you all go behind the ropes? Can everybody go behind the ropes? Please probably have to start getting back on the left. What’s the order for this? Then I’ll be right back at you. troops ready. So that’s uh how they stand with the final pair preparing to play their second shots to the 17th hole. Harrington and Fenan for Great Britain and Ireland. One up. Harrison Woods though are in trouble. Woods it is to play the second shot first from what looks like a middling lie. But even with his power, I don’t know how close he can get to the green. He’s attempting a three iron at this. Now the green, you see the house up at the end there. The green’s more or less on that line, but a little bit to the right. Bunkers up the left hand side. Do or die. [Applause] Sounded a little heavy, but it may chase and run. that Peter went just over the bunkers in the middle of the fairway here. The right hand one just fell on the top and toppled fortunately the right side of the fairway not into the bunker. So still fair distance from the green. Corrington now with his second shot he can reach I fancy. look to make good contact if he’s kept out of the trouble down the left hand side. No rapturous applause. Mike, you see that one? And you can see the conditions now are really miserable. But it’s never so bad when you’re when you’re up and looking as if you might win the match in the next uh 10 minutes or so. That’s the Chibian eye ball. The result of the second shot just wide of the bunker. Still, well, you can see a long way from the green. This whole 511 yds of course under the heavy conditions today. The ball not flying so far. Tiger Woods, even though he managed to smash it out of the Heather, rather fortunate to climb round this bunker, but it’s Excuse me, please. It really is playing more like 600 yards today rather than 511. They were reaching this green with drive and irons. And in fact, in the practice round, Tiger Woods hit a a small iron, something like a nine or something like that into the hole for two for an albatross here at the 17th hole. But uh none of that today. This should be a considerable shot from here. Back there is John Harris just above the bunker. Well, what a time now for John Harris, the most the only player in the United States side to have played in a Walker Cup match before. Unbeaten record so far, but not looking so good here. This is the Americans third shot. I forgot the glove that time. This m This match started at 9:15 and it’s now 1:00. So you can see they’re not absolutely rushing around. The conditions to be fair have been a bit horrid, particularly over the last hour and a half. Oh, John Harris very lucky not to be in the bunker there. I said the ball just tippled on the top and came here instead of going backwards. This is 150 yds into the wind, into the rain. Couldn’t play really the shot he would like to play there. He threw it up in the air and it really needed a good punch, but he’s found the green. All right, which is a good good shot in these circumstances. Well, a little unfortunate to pitch on the green and instead of going forward, it spun back. So, in fact, short of the green. They’ve played three. So, a comforting position for the home pair. They’re now playing their third and they should certainly get a lot closer than the Americans. There they are behind the the dark green brolies. Here’s Fanigan. You notice you might have just caught a glimpse there to an interlocking grip. That’s first finger left knocked round, little finger right, straightforward shot. He’s played millions of these. Well, perhaps not millions, but uh enough to get the job done well, I’m sure. Perfect distance. Just spins back there. It looks absolutely flat, but it’s still moved a foot towards the hole, leaving a very horrible putt for his partner. You certainly get the feeling that the green tilts a bit left to right, don’t you? When you look up there, if you see the lie of the land, look at the back of the green on the left. It all slopes away to the right. You see having the flag attended, not running the risk of striking the flag and the the flag keeping it out. as many spin out as are helped in by the flag. So this the fourth shot for the United States of the 17th. One down. Should start to move right. It does. It’s not a bad line. Oh, what a good effort. Terrific effort. Best they can do is five. I know there’ll be a bit of twoing and throwing here. There’s uh forig is it has the the putt. to win the match. So, Por Harrington, very important putt. Even though the Americans are still 4t away, this would be absolute music if he could hold this. It’s not going to move an awful lot because the rain is going to hold it up and it really is pelting it down now. squeegeees with every match has been out this morning. So that’s helped to keep the greens in playable condition. This is just a 10-ft putt down the hill. He’s very easy to leave it short when it’s damp like this. Well, that was a misjudgment. That’s a five. I fancy conceded five. Yes. And John Harris has a putt at a yard. So to have the hole and uh to go down the last this to keep the match alive. this to keep the match going. Well, what an untidy end really to a very slow march, but the home supporters are absolutely delighted and uh Tiger Woods and John Harris go in for a rather late lunch with there a good move forward by the home side and that’s how it ended the uh honors even after the morning’s foresomes 9-7 three and a half points needed by GB and II to win the Walker Cup and this afternoon’s play if the weather remains as dreary as this will certainly be exciting because you’d think with what eight singles there’s only a dodle to get three and a half it’s quite amazing how the nerve ends tighten up under pressure what a an amazing morning and what a way to finish. Well, it’s tremendous. Two points. Uh that’s that’s great. That’s just tremendous. You put your Irish pair out last. Did you expect them to be up against Tiger Woods? Uh well, it doesn’t really matter who they play. Uh they’re a great pair. They played tremendously this this morning. And to get a point, put us two all. That’s great. Just great. And and particularly against John Harris, first time he’s dropped a point in the Walker Cup. Is it? Oh, I didn’t know that. But it doesn’t matter. We’ve got the point. You must have been a bit concerned though the way that your first pair started. Yeah, I mean it’s happen exactly what happened yesterday after six holes. I was feeling very very down myself. Obviously not trying to show that to the players but uh like yesterday they came back and this time we’ve got an extra half point. So two points in the bag. That’s tremendous. You haven’t got very long now. I’m sure you want to go and talk to them. Gordon’s off actually on the tea in two minutes. So I’m going to I’m going to dash off. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thanks. Well done. Well done.

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Before they became golfing legends, Padraig Harrington and Tiger Woods faced off in the 1995 Walker Cup at Royal Porthcawl. In a thrilling match, Harrington got the better of Woods, showing a glimpse of the talent that would later make him a three-time major champion. Relive this iconic clash between two future greats of the game.

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