Even if Brian Harman was a disappointing Open winner for the majority of spectators at Royal Liverpool, his victory is good for the game of golf. In an age of power hitting where distance, apparently, dominates, Harman possesses a more technical, old-school game of precision from tee to green, combined with phenomenal putting prowess. His short game is simply superb and that is what won him The Open at Hoylake.
The distance debate has been rumbling for years. In fact, looking back at archive copies of Golf Monthly, the R&A was considering the problem of the ball travelling too far after the 1936 Open at Hoylake.
But, in recent years, the issue has come to the fore more prominently and the governing bodies recently proposed a Model Local Rule that would reduce the distance golf balls travel in elite golf. The R&A and USGA have said that increased hitting distance, “threatens golf’s long-term sustainability and undermines the core principle that a broad and balanced set of playing skills should remain the primary determinant of success in golf."
Brian Harman’s win at Hoylake demonstrated quite clearly that a broad and balanced set of playing skills can still prevail over out and out power. Yes, the stats show he largely got the job done with the putter. But he was also extremely reliable from the tee, despite a ball in a gorse bush on Sunday, he was solid on approach and he was excellent when it came to scrambling.
Those opposed to the Model Local Rule will point to Harman and say – ‘look here, a man who ranks 144th in driving distance this year on the PGA Tour is able to win a Major championship by six strokes.’ Those hitting the ball a country mile, McIlroy, DeChambeau, Rahm, weren’t able to match the score of a player who was, more effectively, hitting for positions and avoiding errors.
What this year’s Open really showed was that it’s course set-up that requires players to demonstrate a broad and balanced set of playing skills. The bunkering at Hoylake was punishing – An effective penalty stroke if one was found from the tee, a challenging up-and-down if one was found greenside. The rough was tough but playable, the green surrounds contoured to reject slightly errant shots but pin positions meant there were safe zones to play for, demanding strategy and precision.
The governing bodies should, and surely will, be pushing elite tournament venues to look at the course set-up at Hoylake as a benchmark. The R&A and Royal Liverpool should be heartily praised for their exceptional presentation of a perfect golfing test for the 151st Open.
If all tournament courses were set up to reward accurate and sensible play and to punish wayward and careless play in the way Hoylake was, then the distance players hit the ball would become of far less importance. A ball in a pot bunker 370 yards out is still a ball in a pot bunker!
Brian Harman proved at Royal Liverpool that players with varying skillsets can prevail on courses that are set up correctly for top-level golf. He may just have struck a blow to prevent a bifurcation in The Rules of golf.
