PINKY BUT NOT PERKY
Padraig takes pop at off-colour Bubba
Padraig Harrington has warned Bubba Watson that if he’s going to turn up on a golf course with pink balls and fancy outfits, he has to produce the goods.
The Irishman – who will be part of Sky Sports’ US Masters coverage when the action gets underway in Georgia this week – has taken a swing at the two- time Augusta champion ahead of the tournament.
Har r ington bel ieves Watson’s poor form isn’t being helped by wearing garish outf its and using dif ferent coloured balls.
On the eve of the Masters, the 45-year- old three-time Major winner said: “Bubba obviously l ikes the Masters but his form has been average this year – and that’s being polite.
“He has been turning up and playing with a yellow or pink ball. That’s quite a statement in professional golf.
“It’s interesting. Because if you set yourself apart from the crowd you need to have great belief and deliver on it.
“When things aren’t going well it’s only an advertisement that it’s not going well.
“If you’re going to turn up in a fancy outfit you have to perform. He has come with a coloured golf ball and it hasn’t
happened for him. That brings pressure to him and it’s unnecessary pressure. Maybe that’s why he’s not performing so well.”
While Harrington is not ruling out a third win for Watson at Augusta, he’s adamant that any player will do well to finish ahead of Dustin Johnson or Rory McIlroy.
And he insists the Northern Irishman will thrive on the pressure of complet ing golf ’ s Grand Slam.
He said: “There is major pressure on Rory. It ’ s the last leg of the Grand Slam so there is no bigger tournament.
“The minute this year’s Masters will finish, he will immediately start thinking about the following year.
“It’s a bid deal to Rory. He’s clearly good enough to win it and he’s second favourite to Dustin.
“He might be the only guy in the field who can beat Dustin if he turns up with his A game.
“Certainly Rory’s A game against Dustin’s would be an interesting sight.
“Another player might try to play it down but the truth is it’s the biggest deal in golf for Rory. If he can get the Grand Slam, it puts him on a different level in the history of the sport. “You wouldn’t want the pressure but you’d want to be in his position. I’d love to be teeing up in the Masters looking at a Grand Slam.
“I’d accept the pressure and Rory does too.
“Rory could make his life simpler by playing it down. Because he’s going to play the Masters for the next 20 years so he doesn’t have to win this one.
“But he doesn’t mind a bit of hype or the pressure that comes with it.
“It’s only a matter of time before he finally gets himself across the line at Augusta.”
Sky Sports will show all four days of The Masters live with Padraig Harrington part of their coverage at Augusta National.
Rory might be only guy who can beat Dustin if he turns up with his A game