An "Open" Plea to Padraig Harrington

Hopefully there is hope for Padraig to get back on track this week at Turnberry as he attempts to win the prestigious British Open for the third consecutive year.

Yes he won the Irish PGA last week but no his frame of reference is still askew. He is contemplating the mechanical aspects of his swing in too much detail.

Yes it is all about impact position but no his not playing well since his winning the PGA championship at Oakland Hills has little to do with his impact position.

Keep it simple brilliant (not stupid) as they say in the UK.

The line of reasoning is simple.

How will Padraig know when he has accomplished and finished his golf swing improvement initiative?

The likely answer is "by winning."

The ultimate litmus test will be "by winning Major championships."

Isn't that what he was doing prior to attempting to fix his swing?

Remember the Carnoustie Open in 2008, the Royal Birkdale Open in 2009 and the Oakland Hills PGA Championship in 2009?

Remember winning three of six Major championships?

Forget about the swing fixes.

Don't be like the poor fool that focuses so much on the trivial details that he forgets the big picture.

You are a multiple Major Champion, arguably the best golfer in the world for the last two years so simply play like that person.

Yeah that story line worked for Tiger Woods after his 2001-2002 brilliance. Constant improvement I want to get better take it to the next level. What is the next level after winning three of six Major championships?

Every point needs a story behind it to back it up.

Seriously very few folks buy the fact that the winner of three Major championships in a 13 month period of time would put on the top of his "To Do" list as the highest priority to fix his golf swing?

Padraig your golf swing as Boo Weekley would say "don't need fixin."

Someone referenced a recent family caddie intervention.

Hopefully so we love you just play golf as the fortunate hardworking Irishman the world loves.

Clear your head and simply only let confident positive thoughts back into it.

"I am a Major Champion, I am a Major Champion, I am a Major Champion…"

This is your Oz—the links land. Tap those golf shoes together and put the peg in the ground and swing naturally away.

Be that enthusiastic wide-eyed kid we all see in you and want to see in ourselves while we live out and play our own little game of life.

Forget about the hazards and complications. Be who it is one is suppose to be.

Follow your passion in golf and life.

A lover of links golf.

The pedigree of Open champions at Turnberry—Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Nick Price, and hopefully Padraig Harrington in 2009.

You are in form and a winner as evidence by winning the PGA last week in your homeland.

You haven't changed one iota so why change your golf swing?

You said yourself today: "Only at a point of necessity things get better."

Realize you made a mistake changing things when there was no need to change things.

Like many successful CEO surfer dudes—ride that wave baby ride that wave while why you still can.

You are right—it is never a good thing to be changing something in your swing going into a tournament especially trying to defend two times at Turnberry in the British Open.

Yes nine of the greens at Turnberry are bowl shaped and birdies are realistic if you drive it long and straight and have reasonable iron approach shots into the green,

It's time to play for the "now."

Good golfing—go out and win this Open with the same golf swing you won with at Carnoustie, Royal Birkdale, and Oakland Hills.

It's tried and true and so are you.

Cheers, your golfing admirers.

Andy Reistetter is a freelance golf writer. He follows the PGA TOUR volunteering for the tournaments and working part time for NBC Sports, CBS Sports, and The Golf Channel.

He resides in Jacksonville Beach, Florida near the PGA TOUR headquarters and home of The PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. He enjoys pursuing his passion for the game of golf and everything associated with it.

He can be reached through his website www.MrHickoryGolf.net or by e-mailing him to [e-mail]