A New Champion Golfer of the Year – But Why the Loathing?

The scene was set at Royal Liverpool Golf Club – Hoylake) as it was that venue’s turn in the rota to host this year’s 151st Open Championship. The 154 year old club played host to some of the best golfers in the world, all vying to win the season’s 4th Major.

The venerable, time-tested course didn’t disappoint either as it caused many players to whine which tells you one thing. The R&A set the golf course up beautifully. Yes, there were two internal “Out of Bounds” locations and of course the 17th was not a player’s delight but the actual golf played was delicious. Regardless of some fan favorites that failed to make the cut. Noteables including Collin Morikawa, Dustin Johnson, Sahith Theegala, Talor Gooch, Justin Rose and Tony Finau to name a few.

When the dust settled it was the diminutive Brian Harman that would leave with the Claret Jug in what can only be described as a precise and surgical game plan. A game plan that would best the runner-up (Sepp Straka) by six strokes. Yet the amount of loathing and borderline hate that has gone on since before the winning putt has been nothing I’ve seen about a Major winner since Patrick Reed won The Masters.

In a way, some of it might be well-warranted with the way that he plays. If you don’t like numbers you may not like his statistic-driven ways. Then there’s the waggles. Harman waggled so much that it compelled the commentary to introduce a “waggle counter” graphic. The waggle is something that deserves a story of its own. It’s something that players do for many reasons. To release tension in their body. In my case, I waggle three times before each shot because I have to keep moving. Otherwise, I freeze over the golf ball and the result is typically disastrous. There’s a lesson to be learned in what Brian Harman does. You play your game no matter what people think and you don’t “pull the trigger” until you’re ready.

There were reports and it was heard that fans in attendance at Royal Liverpool were openly rooting against Harman. There’s no doubt that many were hoping for Jon Rahm or Jason Day to win. Or even more likely a fellow from North Ireland (Rory McIlroy) or the host country (Tommy Fleetwood) to win. One of their own so-to-speak.

Maybe it’s the betting houses and bettors?

Harman was simply the best player all week long and deserved the victory. it isn’t like we’re talking about a “flash in the pan” player. The sweet-swinging southpaw has amassed three victories on TOUR, a runner-up at the 2017 U.S. Open all of which has culminated into a cool $29M in career earnings.

Like it or not, Brian Harman’s name will be forever etched into golf history and that can never be taken away. Brian Harman is your Champion Golfer of the Year.

Until The Next Tee!!

#fightandgrind #seeuonthenexttee