RBC Heritage: Brian Harman closes “irritating” week on excessive observe

Brian Harman walked off the golf course on Thursday completely heated, and understandably so.

He had spherical going at Harbour City Golf Hyperlinks, sitting at 4-under via 16 holes. However he completed with a bogey on the par-3 seventeenth and a double-bogey six on 18 to tumble down the leaderboard, settling for a 1-under 70.

The reigning Open Champion then walked over to the interview tent, the place he held what is going to seemingly be the shortest press convention this yr on the PGA Tour.

“I performed good besides the final two holes,” Harman assessed after his first spherical on the RBC Heritage.

“Chipped in on 3. Made an eight-footer on 6, I assume. 10-footer on 9. Made a 15-footer on 13.”

Then, a reporter requested Harman to stroll via his double bogey on the 18th.

He responded with an emphatic “No,” which ended his session with the media after simply 45 seconds.

However three days later, following a stellar 7-under 64 throughout his remaining spherical, Harman admitted to feeling significantly better after a “irritating” week.

Picture by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Pictures

“That’s bought to be one of many higher [rounds I have had here]. I don’t know if I’ve ever gotten to [7-under],” Harman mentioned Sunday.

“It’s nice to complete off with this one, however I knew the sport was there, and I simply couldn’t get something going the primary three days, however it will make dinner style somewhat bit higher for positive.”

Harman made 5 birdies on the entrance 9 to shoot a 5-under 31 on Sunday. He then bogeyed the par-4 eleventh however closed with three extra birdies over his remaining six holes to shoot his best-ever rating on the RBC Heritage. Earlier than Sunday, Harman’s finest at Harbour City was a 6-under 65, a rating he had shot twice throughout his 15 appearances at this occasion.

“It’s been a irritating week as a result of this is likely one of the locations I’ve circled, that I ought to actually come right here and contend yearly that I’m enjoying,” Harman added.

“Simply wasn’t my week, and that’s irritating. However you by no means know what’s going to occur on the market. As impatient as I’ve been all week, it was good to get in one other spherical and really feel some great things right this moment.”

Picture by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Pictures

Final week at Augusta Nationwide, Harman imploded with an 11-over 47 on the again 9 in the course of the first spherical of The Masters. That led to him lacking the minimize in his first main enjoying as a serious champion, which solely fed into his frustrations earlier this week.

However golf is a irritating sport that requires persistence. Harman is aware of that, particularly on a course like Harbour City.

“[This course] baits you into making unhealthy selections for positive,” Harman mentioned.

“You’re feeling like you’ll be able to assault each pin, however you get on the unsuitable aspect of a pair, and also you get to 2 or 3-over par, and also you begin urgent. It’s an incredible golf course. That’s what Pete Dye does. He assessments your bodily expertise, your psychological expertise, and I’ve all the time actually loved the problem of this place.”

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in Via. Make sure to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.