PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON HAD a bad day at the office yesterday.
The Dubliner shot an eight-over-par 80 in the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina — and he used a belly putter while doing it.
Afterwards the three-time major winner — who is an R&A ambassador — said he might persist with the controversial belly putter until the proposed ban on anchored strokes comes into effect in 2016.
“The R&A and USGA support the rules of golf and (anchoring) is well within the rules,” Harrington told reporters at Quail Hollow. “I think (anchoring) is bad for the game of golf. But if something’s going to help me for the next three and a half years I’m going to use it.
“It’s the same as the box (square) grooves. It’s hurt me deeply having the box grooves banned. I knew it wasn’t good for my game, but it was for the good of the game. For the majority, I believe anchoring shouldn’t be there. It doesn’t look good. The commentators are talking about it. You (the media) are talking about it now. It’s a story, just like the grooves.
“As much as the grooves cost me dearly, I know nobody wants to talk about that now. Six months after they were gone, nobody talked about it. It will be the same with the putter. Once it’s banned, six months later everybody will move on.
“But it cost me a couple of shots a day, at least a shot a day, not having the box grooves because that’s my style of game. So it’s not like it hasn’t happened before. But for the game, I definitely think that I don’t agree with anchoring at all.”
So Frawley wasn’t injured, Barrett blocking the pathway of a developing Irish International. If it was any other province there would be uproar
@Liam23: Absolute nonsense comment
@Liam23: No he isn’t injured. As was widely reported in the Leinster injury bulletin this week stating that he, along with Keenan, were back training. Your point is?
@Liam23: wouldn’t be uproar, except by those wanting to WUM. Leinster are entitled to 3 NIQ, so why not have them as the best they can possibly get.
@Liam23: every other province are allowed play their 3 NIQ players as they see fit and in munsters case they can use their 4 non irish qualified player/blockers any way they want. I don’t understand how leinster agreed to this interference especially as they are the only province actually developing international players.
Do you honestly believe that the south africian Klyne won’t start ahead Evan o’connell when fit?
@chris mcdonnell: Leinster were allowed to sign a foreign prop and then bring in a rule. Along with that snyman was signed because munster were impacted by IRFU incompetence. IMO it was a rule to appease other provinces fans than secure pathways.
@Thomas Bohan: picking an Irishman for Ireland over a mercenary who wanted to play for his own country when the chance was eventually dangled in front of him is incompetence now?
@teuO6nLS: Not keeping our stocks up and keep investing some gametime into a player we capped. 4 strong provinces will prove better than 1 strong one for the national team. Beirne will be flogged as munster don’t have enough good locks that’s not good for Ireland.
@Kingshu: quite an honest and refreshing comment from a fan of another province. Almost unheard of on this site.
@Liam23: poor Liam
@Thomas Bohan: that’s just not true. Leinster swapped one NIQ prop for another before humps brought in that rule. That only club allowed break the rules is munster, signed a prop and have more non irish qualified than any other side
@chris mcdonnell: Thomas and Liam are apparently a pair of ostriches.
Poor Tommy is made of glass.
@James: How on earth does he get injured at the captain run. They literally barely doing anything at the captains run bar throw the ball around
@Eoin H: Unfortunately, he seems to be one of those players who could break his leg doing a tour of a pillow factory. Such a shame.
@Eoin H: It wasn’t the captains run, as that is today. He got injured in yesterday’s training session.
@Stephen Nolan: The Indo have reported the Captains run, which is always the last session teams do before matches as reported here.
@James: poor kid. His pace is very important in the SA style of rugby we play. He’s also an extremely good scrambling defender. Awful news.
@James: this is going to sound heartless, but better it happened in the training ground than 5 mins into the game- against a physical team such as LR, it was a matter of when, rather than if, I’m afraid to say. We all appreciate his speed and skill, but secretly we are crossing our fingers and toes each time he plays as he appears to be so brittle. What a shame.
This is bordering on tragic now. He’s the most unfortunate and unlucky player. He’s got the talent and application to absolutely be an international player but the injuries he keeps picking up are really holding him back. It’s such a shame. Hopefully this is just very minor/precautionary.
@Carmine Lorenzo: Even if it is minor he’s lost an absolutely huge opportunity here to make an Ireland squad or push his stock up at Leinster. Wingers more than any other position lose value more as they age. At 26 now, this feels like the biggest blow of them all he’s had.
@Eoin H: yeah it really does. First European start too apparently?
@Carmine Lorenzo: He fits the Nienaber winger defense system more than anyone. Such a shame
@Eoin H: 100% is the type of winger Nienabers system needs
@Eoin H: I’ve been thinking the exact same thing, it’s brutal, really is
@Eoin H: Yeah he’s exactly the type of winger the defence requires alright with his pace and superb tackle tech. An extremely brave defender in contact. Osborne, for all of his numerous strengths, pace isn’t one of them.
Hugo now third choice 15 for Leinster?
@Kenjo: Hope he starts next week! Need him up and running for the 6 nations.
@Kenjo: People who think Keenan will play 15 this season for Leinster are in cuckoo land altogether. Playing Keenan at 15 practically means leaving Barrett and Osborne out of the 15, which is nothing short of absolute insanity given their Leinsters two most X factor backline players.
@Eoin H: Doesn;t play 15 for Leinster, wont for Ireland, shame he is the best 15 we have on the island.
@Thesaltyurchin: he will play 15 for Ireland unless osbourne does and I really don’t see that happening.
@chris mcdonnell: Me either, talented player no question but has the legs of a 13 (imo)
@Thesaltyurchin: Keenan has been injured! You’ll very likely see him back at 15 next weekend. No player in any team has a divine right to the jersey, they have to earn it. Keenan has been injured for 1-2 months and Osborne has gone well there. So he (originally) had the jersey this weekend on merit.
I had figured frawley was injured. That guy is dropping like a stone. Even with keenan out he still couldn’t make leinsters best 23 & is most definitely no3 now on the outhalf rota. Considering ulster were in desperate need of a senior 10 it seems to have been a bit of a cockup that he didn’t move there
@munsterman: Do you not think he’d be a quality signing for Munster? He’s definitely a better option than Burns and plays 12 and 15 easily? I mean he’s more likely to go to Munster given he’s not eligible for the tax incentive up in Belfast. Ulster are clearly investing in Morgan anyway.
@munsterman: why should he move there,its the grave yard for leinster players,i pity barron and milne
@Eoin H: yea I’d be happy if he moved to munster, he’d be a quality backup to crowley and as you say, he’s versatile too. I just figured he’d want to be the main man at outhalf at this stage of his career. I think Jack murphy has looked more impressive for ulster than Morgan has
@munsterman: he was first choice 10 for leinster for the first part of this season and was second to crowley on the SA tour. There was no reason to leave at that stage. If he stays behind pendergast and byrne in cullens selections then I’d imagine that conversation will be had at the end of this season. Equally he could very easy end up first choice at leinster and unless crowley gets his mojo back he’s also in the Irish 23. Also 1 injury away from both irish and the leinster side.
@chris mcdonnell: Frawley knows he’s a better play than Ross, reinforced by him being picked ahead of him for Ireland. There’s no way he won’t take Ross being picked ahead of him personally, unless he’s just far too nice and humble a guy.
@David Clarke: i think you’re confused there – read munstermans comment again more carefully this time
@chris mcdonnell: I dunno if he’s ever been close to 1st choice at leinster, starting a few early season games means nothing
@David Clarke: man you gotta feel for Barron, I reckon he could have been capped in Nov and be 3rd choice for Leinster now if he didn’t get injured and McCarthy taking his chance with both hands. Now he is banished to Munster. Must be so frustrating. At least he is guaranteed match day 23 but still..
@Eoin H: I am not getting into the ross v frawley thing again but frawely was first choice leinster 10 before the November internationals. Sam is in super form and has grabbed both leinster and maybe his Ireland opportunity by the neck and unless something happens should hold on to both as crowleys not playing well at the minute. Saying that 2 weeks in Europe and all that can change.
@munsterman: he was definitely first choice up until November. Cullen has in my opinion never given him the chance to play 10. Andy farrell has had to select over cullens head more than once. Gibson park for one and osbourne at 15 and again with frawley at 10. Look if frawleys not in the leinster side come end of season he needs to move, where that depends on farrell/easterbys irish selections but if he’s out of the irish 23 he should go to England or france. No point in playing second fiddle to crowley at munster, the other 2 clubs are just not at the same level.
I recall certain corners ridiculing tom ahern for being so injury prone and trying to use it to belittle him any time he had good games, hmm, it’s funny how the same logic doesn’t apply to o brien
@Cian Halley: poor Tommy isn’t just injury prone but seems not to have a body capable of playing rugby. Pity as the talent was definitely there
@Cian Halley: Those certain corners are only where trolls reside. IF you want to apply the same logic, I am happy to offer you the same corner?
@Paul Ennis: This particular poster isn’t worth your time or effort. Rejoicing in an Irish player getting injured and trying to use it in some sort of pathetic provincial one upmanship. There’s a special place for individuals like that
@Michael Corkery: what do you mean the talent was there in the past tense? Did he misplace it down in the shops?
Ah jays Tommy not again
So it’s obvious Keenan is injured so. Hmmm.
Not injured…… dropped !
@Lulu: Weird how some people who are threatened by a sports team feel the need to resort to lying.
@Lulu: lemon
@Lulu: delulu
@Robert O’Connor: Deluludud
@Lulu: still a bit high off the silage fumes i see
Tommy must be made of paper mache
Did Keenan steal Cullen’s Christmas presents or something?! Why on earth would you not bring him in at 15 or 14 and shuffle the team less? Barrett has hasn’t played 15 regularly in years
@Andrew Slazenger: Just back from injury with a sniff of games under his belt, imo it would be mad to throw him in, maybe next week but this is exactly why Leinster paid for Barrett.
@Thesaltyurchin: But Frawley is in a very similar situation. I guess the medics know the details and difference
Wonder whats going on with Leinster’s S&C team, shipping a lit of injuries.
Lar are a fairly dirty team and I was thinking they will target pendergast and try rough him up but with osbourne on the wing Rog might focus on his inexperience out there and this could take a bit of pressure off Sam. I am sure they will still have a go at sam but maybe not as focused.
@chris mcdonnell: Depends on who’s running the game, usually its JGP.
Everyone surprised TOB starting yesterday he was never gonna start.
@Thomas Bohan: sadly your comment is fairly accurate, the poor guy
@Thomas Bohan: and why was he “never gonna start?”
Fully expecting Leinster to get thrashed. They have had a shambolic season.
@Aidan Farrell: Agreed. I expected so much more than them being undefeated all season…
Keenan’s form has gone off a cliff so far this season.
@Aidan Farrell: Has made two appearances for Leinster so far this season?
I feel it’s Leinster to lose, they need to take care of the ball also the líne out has to b’é better.