Richard Green: At the Tour Crossroads
IN: News | US PGA | Bridgestone Invitational (2007) | Preview | by Anthony Powter | 01 Aug 2007
Since May of this year, the lanky left-hander Richard Green, has felt different about his swing and the way he is playing the game. Winning the BA-CA Open in Austria, his second European Tour win, started a swing of sequences that seem just to keep getting better for the Melbournian.
After the win in Austria there was the Open Championship at Carnoustie where his T4 finish, after storming home in the final round with a 64, placed him as the best Australian and ahead of all the American players competing that week.
As far as course venues for majors, it arguably does not get any tougher than Carnoustie, with Barry Burn problematically weaving its way through the fairways, no more so than on the 18th hole.
The 18th at Carnoustie is one of the hardest, if not the hardest, finishing holes in major golf, as witnessed when the Open was last played there in 1999 and Frenchman Jean Van De Velde self destructed with the assistance of Barry Burn.
By the time Richard Green walked across the bridge and onto the 18th green he had a putt for a 63 and a course record. The putt missed and Green signed for a 64, equalling the course record set by American Steve Stricker the day before. It was Green’s best performance in a major, which ensures a start for the Open at Royal Birkdale next year and Augusta for the Masters next April.
His world ranking improved ten places to 30th and even though he’d already qualified to play in this week’s Bridgestone Invitation in Akron, Ohio, Green is here with a purpose.
“I came back to Europe and recorded three top ten’s in a row and one win,” commented Green whilst practicing on the range at Firestone Country Club this morning.
The events and experiences that have flowed since May spurred Green and he feels his game is at a level to test the best in America. He is set to embark on two of the most important weeks of his professional career with the Bridgestone Invitational and the USPGA Championship.
“All my feelings from the Open are still there. I feel really good, the swing feels great on the range this morning. It’s a great opportunity to play in a tournament like this, which includes the world’s best.”
Green is acutely aware that opportunities in golf don’t arise often and must be taken when they do. He had earned his place at the Open only two weeks before the championship, after the withdrawal of American Woody Austin.
One player’s misfortune was another’s gain and Green is relishing the opportunity to bring his recent fine form to America. Top end finishes in these next two events, like those achieved at the Open, will have a profound impact on his career, which to date has mainly focused on the European Tour.
Green turned professional in 1992, played a few seasons on the Australasian Tour before heading to Europe, using Bagshot, England as his base. He is now regarded as one of the most consistent players on the European Tour, retaining all playing privileges since arriving and securing two tour victories and amassing over €5 million in prizemoney along the way.
In his first full year he won the 1997 Dubai Desert Classic in a play-off with Ian Woosnam and Greg Norman.
It was another ten years before he won his second European Tour title by capturing the 2007 BA-CA Golf Open in Austria, after again winning in a play-off, this time defeating Jean-Francois Remesy. He also won the 2004 MasterCard Masters on the PGA Tour of Australasia in a play-off against Greg Chalmers and David McKenzie.
“I’ve never had to go to Tour School in Europe, so in that respect I’ve been lucky,” commented Green.
“When I won in Dubai, I was a rookie on my first full season in Europe and the circumstances of that win were awesome, with beating Ian Woosnam and Greg Norman.”
It was Green’s win at the MasterCard Masters at the course where he learnt the game as a kid that he rates as his fondest victory to date, but you sense from his response, all have their own unique memories and places in his ever developing career.
“I really wanted to win the MasterCard Masters and get that green jacket. I grew up at Huntingdale, had watched all the legends play there and that was the one that I really wanted. To win at Huntingdale was very satisfying as a win can ever be.”
Green arrives this week for the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio with a purpose, namely to see if he can make it onto the PGA Tour proper. It’s not that Europe has been deserted but rather Green feels his game is at the stage to take his career to the next level. The opportunity has arisen and Green is eager to take whatever comes over the next two weeks here in America with gusto.
“I’m playing my best golf in my career since turning professional in 1992. The next two weeks could change a lot of things for me.”
“The win in Austria proves that I’m playing great golf and playing experienced golf and using those experiences to play some of my best golf in my career. I want to see if I can do well to get enough money to get a card on tour and see where my career goes from here.”
