When it comes to coaching triple Major winning Padraig Harrington there’s no need to stand over him with a bull whip.
That’s the view of Peter Cowen who has now been coaching Harrington for 10 weeks.
However Cowen confessed he was somewhat taken by surprise when Harrington approached the Yorkshire-born coach during the course of the recent WGC – Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio asking if he would be prepared to offer the Irishman an opinion of his swing.
Peter Cowen doesn't need to take a bull whip to Padraig Harrington.
That was 10 weeks ago and on Sunday night Harrington ‘texted’ Cowen expressing his excitement in securing his equal-best result of the season and that being a share of eighth in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.
“Padraig texted saying how pleased that he hasn’t driven the ball so well for a long time and the only aspect of his game that was a bit ‘iffy’ was his wedge play,” said Cowen.
Cowen had been in Madrid up until yesterday (WED) working with a number of playing including Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, Scotland’s Marc Warren and England’s Seve Benson ahead of this week’s Madrid Masters.
Cowen says he had always admired Harrington’s swing and has video footage among a library of many swings he’s taken over the years.
However since working with Harrington, Cowen has also been looking back through Harrington’s statistics and in particular his wedge play stats from 50 to 70 yards out from the flagstick.
“I was keen to study Padraig’s 2008 wedge play stats from 50 to 70 yards out and the year he won two Majors,” said Cowen.
“He was ranked Number One by a mile that season and averaging seven feet two inches away from the flag from that distance.
“But when you look at the same stats from last year, Padraig was averaging 14 feet and that’s ridiculous and that’s one of the tasks I’ve set him this week to work on in his week off.
“There’s no real concern with his driving as he drove it very well in Scotland last week and to have only two bogeys after 72 holes was pretty good.”
Harrington is among 14 players on the European Tour Cowen and his colleague, Mike Walker are working with.
“I was taken by surprise when Padriag approached me in Akron asking if I would like to offer and opinion and I guess he must have liked what he heard,” said Cowen.
“I guess it’s always a surprise when a player especially of Padraig’s stature comes to see me.
“But then between Mike and I we’ve had 14 wins this year on the Tour.
“I guess it’s the same with people like Sir Alex Ferguson as everyone wonders whether it’s luck or whatever but then Sir Alex must be doing something right at Manchester United or that wouldn’t keep winning.
“Also I can understand why Padraig left Bob Torrance as he needed a ‘freshness’ and a new set of eyes and opinion.
“But when you win Major Championships like Padraig has they want to know why they won, so they can be very demanding as they’re eager to break down every little detail.
“However in saying players like Lee (Westwood), Simon Dyson and Padraig are a pleasure to work with.
“The good aspect about working with Padraig is that I don’t have to stand over him with a bull whip.”
With Harrington sitting out this week’s Madrid Masters, it is left to Paul McGinley, Damien McGrane and Gareth Maybin to carry the Irish colours.
The world’s top-ranked Luke Donald is defending the title and he’s the first reigning No. 1 since Nick Faldo in 1993 to be contesting the event.
However expect the putting statistics to balloon this week as there have already been plenty of comments, including those of double Augusta winning Jose Maria Olazabal, on the state of the very undulating El Encin Golf Club greens.
