Worthy winner says Lee Westwood: Brian Harman kisses the trophy Photo: Peter Powell/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
I read the article in Monday morning, which made me completely disgusted. It was on a golf website and the headline read “golf had to fail.” The level of disrespect for Brian Harman and his remarkable victory at the Open Championship on Sunday was astounding.
Imagine if Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy had won by six shots against Hoylake. Everyone will be screaming from the clubhouse rooftops, and with good reason. But because it was Harman and not a well-known name, the reaction on social media seemed to be negative.
You expect this nonsense in the dark recesses of Twitter, and not in one of the most famous magazines in America. I will not name the publication, because it has excellent journalists, whom I do not want to blame. But at least the title should be changed. In short, this is a shame and shows a complete misunderstanding of the nature of the sport in this post's own title.
Now I'm afraid that one of those damned lists will show up as the “worst major champions of all time” or something pathetic like that. It's grotesque, cruel, and a plague on the sport. Judge champions by how they play, how they win, not how famous they were at the time.
Golf is unpredictable. This is one of the strengths of the game. There are so many variables that even the greats have lost far more than they have won. Golf Links is particularly volatile, with effects of weather, draw and, simply, rebound luck. But Harman didn't gain any advantage in a week when Mother Nature basically set the same terms for everyone, whether they were in the early-late or late-early brigade.
It was one of the best performances. Bryan converted 54 of his first 54 shots within 10 feet, and when he finally missed one – the 13th during the last round – he immediately bounced back with a 40-foot shot on the next green. I'm always embarrassed to compare anyone to Tiger, but it certainly was in Tiger's style. I remember once he hit the same breakneck putt streak at the Akron World Championship golf and the media lashed out at each other praising him.
Again, to the point. But Harman deserves the same, not to be considered a champion out of the blue, but some kind of accident.
For God's sake, he was the 26th number in the world. This is less than Shane Lowry when he won at Portrush in 2019. There's no such thing as a “failed” Open, unless you're obsessed with celebrities.
Harman is a recognized PGA Tour winner, finished second in the US Open on his resume and finished sixth last year at the Open. He is a quiet guy, but in the dressing room we all knew that he was always a contender. Of course, this time he wasn't the first name that came to mind, but we're not talking about Rocky Balboa or Foinavon here.
I saw some idiot on social media claim that it's good for Europe that Harman is on the US Ryder Cup team for September's Ryder Cup in Rome. This is hell! He is one of those opponents that can drive you crazy: he never misses, always stays on top thanks to his stamina and determination.
No, he does not hit many miles and is not a bomber, but, as we have seen on the Wirral, it's accurate, and the way we've set up our Ryder Cup courses on this side of the pond – narrow fairways, thick roughs – means it'll fit in the Marco Simone test. Believe me, Brian will be a huge asset to Zack Johnson in fours.
The power of depth at the disposal of the American captain is as incredible as it is ominous as the Americans plot to win on European soil for the first time in 30 years. Wyndham Clarke won the US Open last month and he was another player who didn't make it into the top tier. After that, their confidence will be overflowing.
Luke Donald, my old partner, will still dream of Europe's chances, and at McIlroy the European captain will have the world No. 2. Rory will now head into Season 10 without winning a single Major, but in my opinion he hasn't reached his peak yet and has done ridiculously well, winning four Majors before he turns 25.
< p>I didn't play my best golf until I was 30 years old – I became the number one racket of the world, and yes, I was given pelters from the USA for somehow not worthy of this nickname – and I believe that Rory will be same. He is so consistent and should continue what he is doing. To be honest, I have a feeling that he will win the Masters in April and I'm not sure I felt that way before. Rory seems to be on that path and one day it will all work out and he will leave with another major – Harman style.
There are six weeks in the race to make it to the European team, but only three world tour events D.P. In my opinion, it is a pity that in the next three weeks there will be no tournaments on the track. It's the middle of summer! Fans will be itching to watch golf after the Open and I can assure you that players will be twirling their fingers as they desperately try to win the competition.
When negotiations between the State Investment Fund and the Tours finally end Conclusion I pray to correct such anomalies. I was delighted to hear that Yasser Al Rumayyan, Governor of PIF and Chairman of LIV Golf, met with R&A CEO Martin Slumbers in Hoylake and that tensions are easing and that those in power are speaking.
More good news has come after the Open Championship, which I consider top-notch, and the 2023 Open Championship definitely had a top-notch champion.
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