Padraig Harrington was hoping the assistance of a genius coach would today take him one step away from the Cisco World Match Play title at Wentworth. Harrington plays European Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance in the 36-hole semi-finals - and the coach is none other than Torrance's father Bob.
Under his wing, the Dubliner has moved from outside the world's top 50 to 15th in under two years and comprehensive victories over Nick Faldo and Darren Clarke already this week have underlined the progress he has made. Colin Montgomerie ranks Harrington the most improved player in world golf since he made the 1999 Ryder Cup team.
"I can't say enough about the help I'm getting from Bob," Harrington said. "I think he's a genius actually. His ideas always seem to make sense."
Torrance, himself delighted to have knocked out Seve Ballesteros and world number five Vijay Singh after being called into the £1million event only on Tuesday, commented last year that he could see Harrington was turning into a superstar.
"He is just about to cross that bridge," said Torrance. "He was an absolute star at the Ryder Cup and showed when he won what might so easily have been the crucial match (against Mark O'Meara) that he's made of the right stuff."
Ian Woosnam plays holder Lee Westwood in the other semi.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
