Master coach Bob Torrance reckons that major chasing Padraig Harrington is on the road to perfection.

After 40 years teaching the big stars, Torrance believes that the hardworking Dubliner is closer than ever to winning a major championship.

And he should know. His former clients form a Who's Who of golf - from Vijay Singh and Sandy Lyle to Seve Ballesteros, Curtis Strange, Tom Kite, Paul McGinley and Ian Woosnam.

He's even sorted out the swing problems of 007 himself - James Bond actor Sean Connery.

Now 70 years of age, Torrance continues to work with the cream of crop, but Harrington is his latest masterpiece.

Not that Torrance takes all the credit for the achievements of his players because he sees himself as a guide rather than magical Mr Fix It.

"There is no such a thing as a quick fix," he told me this week. "The thing you have to have is patience. There are no short cuts and you have got to dedicate yourself, if you don't you are wasting your time."

In Harrington he has found the perfect pupil - the man with more patience than anyone on tour and the will to practice until the cows come home.

Four years ago Harrington went to the venerable Scot and asked if he could help him improve his game, just as he had helped Paul McGinley in the past.

The result was total change, and after an initial teething period in 1998, Harrington jumped from nowhere to 10th in the world rankings in the space of three seasons.

"We changed everything - grip, set up, take up, shoulder plane, top of the swing, start of the downswing, thorough the ball.

"Now we've done everything on the golf swing that we are going to do. We are going back over things now to perfect them.

"I've told Padraig and others two things when they go out to play. I say, these are the happiest days in your life, they will never come again so go out and enjoy it.

"But you must always strive for perfection. You will never achieve it or reach it but you must always go for it."

That said, Torrance firmly believes that Harrington is as close to perfection as he can get him. Now it is simply a question of going out and winning the big one.

"He has the talent to be the best player in the world, no doubt about it. Without talent I can do nothing. I could make you a better player, but I could never make you into Tiger Woods.

"But talent is something you can see. You can see kids playing football and spot one that might not be the best player at that moment but you know there is something special about him.

"I felt that with Padraig. He has no weaknesses in my book- as a man, as a practiser or as a thinker. As the old saying goes, the ball is in his court now."

Spotting a player's problem has always been Torrance's special talent, despite the fact that he was never a top player himself.

"The main thing in coaching is the eye. That's the main thing," he explained. "Peter Jacobson came to me one day and asked me if I would look at a player called D.A. Weibring.

"I had a look at him and pointed something out to him. Jacobson said, "I never saw that, but I can see it now."

"I think that's one of the keys. The most important key of the lot is the person you're teaching. Everybody talks about teaching but the main thing is talent and Padraig has buckets of talent."

Despite racking up 16 runners-up spots in just over five years, Harrington's day will come soon.

"As a great man said, you must always prepare yourself for winning because you never know when the occasion will arise.

For Harrington, that day is getting nearer all the time.

(McEvoy)

Golf legend Peter McEvoy is disappointed in his Walker Cup pupils since they turned professional.

Young stars Michael Hoey, Graeme McDowell, Luke Donald, Paul Casey and Nick Dougherty all won the Walker Cup under McEvoy's inspired captaincy.

But McEvoy, 49, feels that they have failed to show enough ambition since joining the paid ranks.

"Frankly I think they could do a lot better," he said at Muirfield. "They seem to be a happy with modest achievements when they could be challenging to win tournaments.

"Luke is doing okay in the US but I expect more from these players because they are easily as good as anyone out there."

Hoey has made just two cuts since turning professional while McDowell has made just one from three attempts.

For McEvoy the secret is to treat the professional game with the amateur ethic - forget about the money.

"Just get the ball in the hole and forget about the cash is what I say," said the two-time former British Amateur champion.. "Look at Jack Nicklaus - in my opinion the greatest 'amateur' of them all.

"Nicklaus didn't play for the money, he played for the trophy. It's the same with Tiger Woods. You can bet that he has no idea how much first prize is at the Open this week."

(Diego)
Forget the Hand of God. Football genius Diego Maradona is set to try his hand at golf - in Scotland.

The Argentinean maestro looks set to partner Angel Cabrera in the Dunhill Links dunhill links championship, which will take place at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns from October 3-6

Maradona, who is a keen 24 handicapper, loves to get out on the course when nobody is about so he can play without being bothered by autograph hunters.

(Bracelet)
Watch out for Paul McGinley's lucky charm.

The Dubliner has been wearing an exotic leather bracelet on his right wrist for over 18 months.

He revealed: "A friend of my wife gave it to me and I've played well with it on. Here's hoping it still brings me luck."

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© Brian Keogh 2002

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