Padraig Harrington wins the 137th Open Championship!

July 24th, 2008 | Full Swing Biomechanics, Padraig Harrington, Putting Biomechanics

Padraig defends his Open Championship in style with a fine final round of one under par 69 to give him a four shot victory. He joins an exclusive club of multiple major winners, is the first European to defend his title in 102 years and is now ranked at number 3 in the world….

Six opening pars gave Padraig the start he needed in the last round of the Open and he never really looked back after that. Bogies on the 7th 8th and 9th gave him some work to do but he finished in style with birdies on the 13th and 15th before the shot of the day at the par five 17th where he hit his second shot close to make an eagle three and give himself a four shot lead down the last. Speaking afterwards he said it was very satisfying to be out in the last group in a major and to perform under pressure. He leaps to number three in the world rankings and is number one on the Ryder Cup team going to Valhalla in September…

Congratulations Padraig from all at Quintic.

With this win Padraig Harrington secured his 13th European Tour International Schedule victory in his 275th European Tour event. It was his second Major Championship victory in his 41st Major Championship appearance.

*His second Open Championship victory following his triumph in 2007. His second win came in his 12th Open Championship appearance.
*First player to successfully defend The Open Championship since Tiger Woods in 2005-2006.
*Becomes the 16th player to successfully defend The Open Championship title.
*Becomes the first European to successfully defend The Open Championship since James Braid in 1905-1906.
*Becomes the 26th different player to record multiple victories in The Open Championship.
*Becomes only the second European Tour Member to successfully defend a Major Championship, following Nick Faldo at the 1989-1990 Masters Tournament.
*Becomes the 31st different player to successfully defend a Major Championship.
*Becomes the first player to successfully defend a European Tour title since Tiger Woods at the 2006-07 US PGA Championship.
*First time he has successfully defended a European Tour title in his career.
*The 51st occasion a European Tour event has been successfully defended.
*The 28th different player in European Tour history to successfully defend a title.
*The third Irish victory in a Major Championship, following his win in 2007 and Fred Daly in the 1947 Open Championship.
*His fourth top ten finish in The Open Championship from his 12 appearances – and 11th overall top ten from his Major Championship career.
*His victory becomes the 34th Major Championship victory since 1979 by a European Tour Member.
*Becomes the ninth different European Tour Member to win a Major Championship since 1979.
*The sixth Irish victory of The 2008 European Tour International Schedule. The most in a single European Tour season, beating the five of 1989. They are: Graeme McDowell (Ballantine’s Championship and The Barclays Scottish Open), Damien McGrane (Volvo China Open), Darren Clarke (BMW Asian Open), Peter Lawrie Open de España) and Padraig Harrington (The 137th Open Championship).
*Moves to fourth in the European Tour Order of Merit with €1,438,076 from 29th.
*Moves to the top of The Ryder Cup World Points List with 238.64
*Second victory of 2008 following the Ladbrokes Irish PGA Championship last week.
*Third consecutive European Tour season with a victory.
*Moves to a career-high of third in the Official World Golf Ranking.
*Gains a five year exemption into The Masters Tournament, the US Open Championship and USPGA Championship.
*Gains a place in the 2008 PGA Grand Slam of Golf
*Gains a place in the 2008 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational
*Gains a place in the 2009 HSBC Champions
*Extends his European Tour exemption until the end of 2018.
*Moves over €18 million in European Tour Official Career Earnings – just the fourth player to achieve the feat
*The 44th Irish victory on The European Tour.
*Third top ten finish of the 2008 season and 95th of his European Tour career
*His 23rd win as a professional.

HI-TEC Powers Padraig to Major victory AGAIN!

July 23rd, 2008 | Full Swing Biomechanics, Padraig Harrington

“It’s no coincidence that I was wearing the world’s best golf shoes in winning back-to-back Open Championships. In some of the most testing conditions ever, HI-TEC’s CDT technology gave me amazing balance and stability“.

Padraig Harrington Open Champion 2007 & 2008

Harrington pays tribute to Torrance the ‘genius’

July 22nd, 2008 | Padraig Harrington

Padraig Harrington, the two-time Open champion, yesterday hailed Bob Torrance, his swing coach, as “a genius” and the best teacher of the game to be found anywhere in the world of golf.

Ten years after the men first met on the range at Loch Lomond, the partnership between the tireless Irishman and the shrewd Scot has helped to mould the first European golfer to win more than one major title since Jose Maria Olazabal. Long renowned in his amateur days as an outstanding chipper and putter, Harrington was smart enough to work out after turning pro that he needed to overhaul his swing if he wanted to improve.

In perhaps the most successful swing re-design on this side of the Atlantic since Nick Faldo had his action taken apart by David Leadbetter, Harrington paid tribute to the 75-year-old Scot for turning him into one of the game’s best ball strikers of the past decade.
“Bob is the best swing coach in the world,” Harrington, 36, insisted at Birkdale the morning after he’d become the first European player in 102 years to successfully defend the Open title.

“You can see his genius in the way he can analyse any swing. He’s spent his whole life examining the golf swing and his knowledge of cause and effect is just incredible.”

Harrington also works with Dr Paul Hurrion, the biomechanics expert, who confirmed that everything Torrance sees naturally “with his own eye and his genius” is backed up by computer analysis and scientific evidence.

By Mike Aitken
http://www.scottishgolfview.com/2008/07/harrington-pays-tribute-to-torrance.html

GEL Golf Appoints European Tour Rep

July 16th, 2008 | GEL Golf, Quintic Video Software

GEL (Groove Equipment Ltd) Golf has appointed Duncan Bagshaw as its European Tour representative to ensure that its GEL Putters are available for playing professionals to test on Tour week on week.

Prior to taking up his role at GEL, Bagshaw spent a week with renown putting coach and sports biomechanist Dr Paul Hurrion, who designed and launched the GEL Paul Hurrion Signature Range in conjunction with GEL Golf earlier this year at the PGA Golf Show in Orlando and, more recently, at the London Golf Show in April 2008. Quintic software along with Quintic Ball Roll analysis software is key in demonstrating the effect of the putters on the ball roll. The Quintic software is available on the putting green for the golfers to try the putters… seeing is beliving!

“I am delighted with my appointment as GEL’s representative on the European Tour and look forward to introducing the Tour pros to the GEL putter, which I believe is the best putter on the market; it performs well and looks great to boot,” said Bagshaw, who once boasted a handicap of +1.

“The innovative groove and insert technology GEL uses in its putters ensures instant forward roll on the golf ball, reducing the unwelcome effects of skidding and giving a truer roll to putts, whilst the substantial aluminium insert increases the size of the sweet spot and enhances feel.”

The appointment of Bagshaw means that GEL Golf now has representation on the European, Canadian, Asian, Japanese and China Tours.

Back in September 2007, GEL appointed Caesar Bayliss as a full-time representative on the Asian Tour, which very soon produced results; American Bryan Saltus won the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open in December having exchanged his regular putter for a GEL Putter. GEL is now the number three putter brand on the Asian Tour.

In May this year, GEL celebrated its second tour win when Taiwan’s Hsu Mong-nam claimed victory at the Omega China Tour’s Shanghai Championship. The very same week, GEL became the top putter brand on the China Tour.

“At the European Open, my first event as the GEL European Tour representative, we received a great deal of interest from numerous pros and one player actually used our putter during the tournament – a great start as far as I am concerned,” enthused Bagshaw.

“I am confident that we can match the success the brand has experienced on the Asian and China Tours, and I am already looking forward to a GEL Putter securing our first European Tour title.”

Bagshaw has always been involved with golf and first picked up a golf club at the tender age of three. He went on to captain the Golf Team at Sheffield Hallam University where he studied Sports Science, later completing a work placement in the golf operations department at Gleneagles.

www.GELGolf.com or www.GELGolf.co.uk

Duncan Bagshaw and Dr Paul Hurrion - Royal Birkdale

George Cummins sinking 21 putts in a row - London Golf Show 2008

July 13th, 2008 | GEL Golf, Putting Biomechanics

Dear Gel Golf

I recently won the putting competion at the London Golf Show sinking the 21 putts. I had my lesson with Paul Hurrion and I really enjoyed it and have learnt a lot of new tips and techniques. He said that you wanted to know how my game has improved with the putter for the website.

Over my first three rounds with the putter I have improved amazingly on the greens. On my first round I had 33 putts, on the second 30, and on the third 27. I have never felt more confident on the greens with this putter and nearly everything from within 8 feet seems to drop. I am even sinking putts from over 30 feet. I feel that putting is the most important part of your game, so a good putter is essential. In my opinion, this putter is fantastic! I know that my handicap is going to drop in the coming months thanks to my new Gel putter.

Thankyou for the experience, I absolutely love the putter!

George Cummins

George Cummins and Dr Paul Hurrion

Putting guru helps Lornie establish first round lead

July 4th, 2008 | Biomechanics Consultancy, Putting Biomechanics

Having taken the big decision to play golf full-time only last month, Graeme Lornie showed his potential with a four-under-par 69 in his first round over the PGA Centenary Course to lead the £55,000 Gleneagles Scottish Championship by two shots.

“If I don’t try now I never will,” said Lornie, who believes that at the age of 28 time is already running out on his efforts to be as good as he can be. The £8800 top prize on Sunday in the Tartan Tour’s flagship event would go a long way to vindicating his decision.

He was a greenkeeper for 10 years at Royal Aberdeen and Newmachar and a leading amateur in the north-east before turning professional three years ago and working at a golf range before taking on an attachment with the Kings Links Golf Centre in Aberdeen.

With the rough up, keeping the ball on the fairway was paramount on a day when the average score was approaching 80. Lornie spoiled an eagle 3 at the second with four bogeys in his next five holes but made his score with an inward five-under-par 32 and credited a coaching session with Birmingham-based Paul Hurrion.

Hurrion, a biomechanic who specialises in putting, also coaches Open champion Padraig Harrington and fellow Irish Ryder Cup player Paul McGinley. “He improved my posture and my form on the greens is like night and day,” said Lornie, No.2 on the young professionals’ order of merit for the last two years.

His Kings Links stablemate Scott Henderson, a former European Tour rookie of the year, said Lornie was a real prospect, but warned he must be careful to avoid becoming bogged down in technicalities.

On a sunny day of light winds which strengthened throughout the day, Henderson was one of the few later starters to break par. He lost a ball at the eighth, but a three-wood to four feet at the last set up an eagle 3 and a round of 72.

Four players were in joint second place on 71: Craig Lee, Paul McKechnie, Nigel Scott-Smith and Eddie Thomson.

Lee, a European Tour rookie, is No.228 on the money list with just over £20,000 and he estimates his expenses at more than double that. He is looking for a good week to fund the remainder of his campaign and an eagle at the last helped him on his way.

“I have five or six events left and I still believe I can do it,” he said, “but it would be frustrating if I couldn’t play because I don’t have enough money.”

McKechnie is playing the Tartan Tour after four seasons on the Challenge Tour but the dream is still alive and has been taking coaching from Alan White at Lanark to help build towards qualifying school at the end of the season.

For Scott-Smith, a one-time aspiring tour player who now runs the Palacerigg Golf Centre, it was a performance reminiscent of his full-time days in the 1990s, and he made his score with birdies at each of the five par-5s.

Thomson, another who had an eagle 3 at the last by chipping in, kept out of the thick rough all day, and after missing the cut in three Challenge Tour events played yesterday with words of wisdom from coach Bob Torrance ringing in his ears: “Keep believing.”

http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport

DOUGLAS LOWE, Golf Correspondent

Rory looks for help

June 24th, 2008 | PGA European Tour Golfers, Putting Biomechanics

McIlroy asks Harrington ‘Doc’ to cure his putting ills
By Karl MacGinty

Tuesday June 24 2008

RORY McILROY has asked Padraig Harrington’s ‘doctor’ to help cure his putting ills.

Ireland’s teenage sensation has started working with short-game specialist Dr Paul Hurrion in an effort to improve his putting averages on the European Tour.

“I decided to go and see Paul a couple of days after the US Open qualifier at Walton Heath because I didn’t want my poor putting to linger on,” explains McIlroy.

McIlroy languishes in 63rd place on Tour with average of 29.7 putts per round, two more than the best in Europe.

“I said to myself, I’m not putting well and I need to do something about it.

“Putting has been the only aspect of my game letting me down over the last few weeks,” added McIlroy, who missed his second cut in three events at last weekend’s International Open.

“So I’ve done something about it. It was my own decision to go to Paul. I’d met him when I was at Padraig Harrington’s house.

“Since Padraig’s probably the best putter on Tour, I thought: ‘Why not go and see Paul?’ I spent a whole day at this lab and now I am working hard in practice.”

A scientist who specialises in bio-mechanics, Dr Hurrion also counts Paul McGinley, David Howell and Philip Archer among his clients.

“Really, what he has done is pick my technique apart and put it back together again. I still have a long way to go but, hopefully, I can soon start seeing the results,” McIlroy explains. “If in the next five to 10 years I can take two shots a round off my scoring, it’s going to make a huge difference.”

Now 90th in the Order of Merit with €170,352 won in 15 events this season, McIlroy needs around €50,000 to retain his card. Yet his sights are set higher. Principally, he’s targeting a first win on Tour.

Rocket Science for everyone!

June 12th, 2008 | PGA European Tour Golfers, Padraig Harrington, Putting Biomechanics, Quintic Video Software

Arnold Palmer has recently been credited with being the single most important sporting icon to begin the transformation of golf into the ‘game for everyone’. A generation before marketing became a byword for charlatanism with testosterone, Palmer’s looks, undoubted athletic prowess and his charisma made him much more ‘bankable’ than any other golf professional of his age. But here’s an interesting thing… Recently re-produced photos of Arnie in his heyday show the young dragon pouting strangely. This was mentioned in passing to John Lewis from Bay Hill by Palmer UK & Ireland, who explained that it’s because the young Palmer smoked like a chimney, but modern custom forbids this and so the Lucky Strikes have been airbrushed out but the facial expression of the habitual smoker remains. It’s representative of how sport has turned against nicotine and related sybaritic pleasures - many would have thought that golf didn’t really number among the sports where selfdenial and discipline were that evident.

At the Open in 1976, Johnny Miller walked away with the champion’s purse of £7500,having beaten Jack Nicklaus in to second place by 6 strokes. And the biggest attraction on the Royal Birkdale ground was the Guinness Tent, says an observer of the time. Golf was slightly rarefied, slightly Bertie Wooster, slightly… well… naff. Then Tiger Woods happened. With his shameless athleticism and firebrand physicality he has 60 PGA victories and 13 majors and will surely go on to break the Jack Nicklaus record of 18 majors … ‘did him no good at The Open, mind you. Padraig Harrington didn’t gain possession of the Claret Jug at The Open using a metal detector. His training regime is strict, well-researched, rigorously executed. And what’s behind it all?

Biomechanics…

When kids go to school today, if they’re taught physical education by a recent graduate of any decent training college, biomechanics will have been written large in the syllabus of what physical education teachers have to master. For those of us who aren’t aware of the term Sports Biomechanics uses the scientific methods of mechanics to study the effects of various forces on the sports performer. It is concerned, in particular, with the forces that act on the human neuromusculoskeletal system; velocities, accelerations, torque, momentum, inertia… It also considers aspects of the behaviour of sports implements, footwear and surfaces where these affect athletic performance and injury prevention.

Harrington has mastered this concept, because as an athlete his in depth knowledge of how his body works in golf competitions allows him to monitor his performance in fine detail, accentuate positive and eliminate negative aspects, as well as avoid strain or injury. Dr Paul Hurrion is a doctor of biomechanics, and consults regularly with Padraig, as well as with the likes of Paul McGinley, David Howell, Philip Archer, and Lee Westwood. During interviews with the press at the Scottish Open, much was made of Westwood’s recent visit to a putting lab to sort out his erratic performance on the greens.

“The laboratory is a room with a hard floor, green carpet, cameras all over the room and mirrors – it’s a bit kinky really,”
Lee Westwood

It’s quite an accurate description of ‘The Quintic Putting Lab’ in the centre of England
where Dr Paul Hurrion is based. It would also describe the set up Padraig Harrington has at his home in Dublin; a faithful replica of the lab at Quintic.

“Quintic Performance Analysis Software provides com-prehensive, easy to use, tools that allow me to analyse my full swing, chipping and putting in fine detail, whether I’m on the practice range, indoors or away on Tour,” explains Padraig. “I am able to synchronise and compare my swing action and tempo immediately, whilst the use of the drawing tools enables me to calculate the speed and acceleration of my club and arms.”

This science is what is making the single most meaningful contribution to sport in our time…

To read the complete article please click here download the PDF document
Hurrion - Golf Ireland.pdf

New Golf Equipment: GEL Putters Paul Hurrion signature putter range

June 7th, 2008 | GEL Golf

By Senior Equipment Editor, Sean Ramsdale
http://www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/Golf/News/searchresults/May/may7-gel-hurrian-putters/

Today Golfer Gear News

GEL Golf have joined forces with top sports biomechanist and putting coach Dr Paul Hurrion to design an impressive new range of putters.

The new GEL Paul Hurrion signature putter range incorporates the groove and insert technology of the standard GEL Groove Putter range along with 10 years of research and development by Hurrion into the art and science of putting.

Hurrion’s biomechanical analysis of putting has shown that the performance of a golf ball during the start of its roll is the most crucial part to send the golf ball accurately towards the hole. He explains:

“All the testing that has been undertaken on putters proves that grooved putter faces produce greater grip with the golf ball at the moment of impact, therefore enhancing a putter’s ability to produce the desired topspin roll on the golf ball,”

Despite the serious science behind these new wands, these are really cool looking putters with bright coloured inserts and funky grips and we can’t wait to put them to the test in our magazine putter special this summer!

There are four different models in the new Paul Hurrion Signature Range as follows:

SEDO putter (Smooth)
A heel-toe, weighted blade with a goose neck and slight offset. Loft 3.0 degrees. Lie 73 degrees. Standard shaft length: 32″ to 35″. 431 stainless steel material. (370gm head weight)

SEDO II putter (Smooth)
A heel-toe, weighted modified blade with a ‘crank-neck’ hosel and full shaft offset. Loft 3.0 degrees. Lie 73 degrees. Standard shaft length: 32″ to 35″. 431 stainless steel material. (380gm head weight)

SCINDO putter (Split / Separate)
A modified alignment, face-balanced blade, with an increased club head offers more weight and maximum forgiveness. A centre-shafted, no offset, cavity-back, blade-style head design. Loft 2.5 degrees. Lie 73 degrees. Standard shaft length: 32″ to 35″. 431 stainless steel material. (365 gram head weight)

REGO putter (Straight)
A modified alignment, face-balanced blade with an inline weighting, perimeter weighting with a centre shaft and no offset. Weight alignment arms create unique weight distribution within the putter face. Three-line alignment system squares the putter face to help focus the putter to the target. Loft 3.0 degrees. Lie 73 degrees. Standard shaft length: 32″ to 35″. 431 stainless steel material. (380gm head weight)

All four GEL Putters putter models cost £165 each and you can find your nearest retailer or buy online at www.gelgolf.co.uk

Comments:

Sedo 2 Hurrion Putter: I bought a Sedo 2 at the London Golf Show 3 weeks ago and I cannot believe how much of a differce it has made to my putting. The contact with the ball is so crisp and the roll of the ball straight off the putter head has made judging distance so much easier. GEL’s slogan is ‘Believe in the Roll’ and you really can!!!! I advise EVERYONE to go and check them out because it is undoubtedly the best putter i have ever held 

Agree with Oli1982, I bought a Rego centre shafted putter at LGS. I have a handicap of 3 and quite frankly never used a better putter yet. Weighting is slightly heavier than most putters but beatuifully balanced and gives a true roll to the ball. Spot on GEL, I will be recommeding to my mates!

http://www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/Golf/News/searchresults/May/may7-gel-hurrian-putters/

Archer & McGowan qualify for US Open

June 3rd, 2008 | PGA European Tour Golfers, Philip Archer, Putting Biomechanics

England’s Ross Fisher and Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth led the seven qualifiers bound for Torrey Pines for next week’s US Open Championship after successfully negotiating their way through the qualifier at Walton Heath.

Phillip Archer and local Ross McGowan finish at six under par to book their place to San Diego next week. Quintic would like to wish the pair the best of luck in the season’s second Major Championship of 08.



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