Padraig Wins US Senior Open
A year and a half ago, the Rock Hill pro shop phone rang and it was not an ordinary golfer, it was Padraig Harrington. He had seen some of the videos I had put up about the Science of the Swing and he wanted to see if I could help him get more consistent power in his game. He came to Rock Hill and I was immediately blown away at how dedicated—and how humble—Paddy is. He hits every ball with full intensity, while being a complete gentleman and happily interacting with the regular players on the range. His father ran a public golf course in Ireland, and you can tell Padraig is comfortable in that setting.
He’s also comfortable being uncomfortable. We’ve made some pretty dramatic adjustments to his swing, namely in how he releases through the ball. We used Jacobs3D extensively to not just produce speed in a kind of free-for-all, but in a way he could control and do it without putting extra stress on his body.
We spent hours on the phone or on video chats, while he hit thousands of balls in the indoor space at his home in Ireland. The first time we spoke, he said his goal was to win a a major. After his performance at the PGA Championship last year tying for fourth and at the Regions Tradition in the spring where he finished second, it looked like he was ready to do it.
This Sunday, it happened. He was loose and free and aggressive, and he made some big, big putts. It was amazing to watch him hold up the Francis Ouimet trophy knowing what went into getting back to the top.
Congratulations, Paddy!
Michael Jacobs - Head Professional Rock Hill Golf Club
