Practice Makes Perfect
28/10/08
The saying goes that, ‘Practice makes perfect,’ and that certainly holds true at the Volvo Masters as the 57 best players in Europe take to the range to hone their game ahead of the €4.25million end-of-season showpiece.
‘Practice makes perfect,’ so the saying goes and judging by the race for space at the Valderrama practice range, getting some last-minute practice in must increase the chances of landing one of the biggest titles in world golf and the record €708,330 champion’s cheque.
“Actually, perfect practice makes perfect,” says leading golf coach Pete Cowan, recently returned from Australia to work with his group of players at the Volvo Masters.
“At this closing stage of the season, we really are fine tuning things, just working on issues the players are a bit concerned about,” explains Cowan, who works with top European Tour stars like Henrik Stenson and Graeme Storm, both very much in the mix for the 21st and final Volvo Masters title.
"It’s both physical and mental,” he continues, adding, “Confidence is everything in golf and the smallest margins can make all the difference to these elite players.”
Since the weekend before the Volvo Masters, even top stars like Padraig Harrington – famed for his work ethic - have been at the Andalucian course, practice, practice, practice and Cowan’s man Graeme Storm, making his fourth consecutive appearance at the Volvo Masters appreciates having his coach looking over his shoulder on the range.
“Pete is a top coach, world class, and although we are just tweaking little things, swing, set-up, tempo, anything to improve the quality of the ball-striking, having him here can and does make all the difference.
“Pete Cowan is the sort of guy who can pin-point the smallest thing that is out of kilter and fix it, and having been playing poorly of late, I can feel the confidence flowing back into my game and it’s all down to him.”
Even double ‘Major’ champion Padraig Harrington needs to practice, the Irishman, looking for his second Volvo Masters crown and a second Order of Merit title remains one of the hardest-working players on the circuit despite his success.
Says the 2008 British Open and USPGA champion’s coach, the legendary Bob Torrance, “It’s the quality of the practice that counts, but Padraig is always seeking to take his game up to the next level, which is why he works so hard.”
It was all so different 21 years ago when the Volvo Masters began.
“Good quality practice facilities, new range balls provided for the players was something Volvo brought in and now it is standard practice,” says ever-present Colin Montgomerie, adding, “Before that, the guys used to bring their own, second-hand practice balls and the caddie would go out to collect them.”
During the Volvo Masters week, some 5,000 Titleist golf balls will be used at the Valderrama practice range with the 57 players hitting almost 100,000 practice shots in search of perfection and the 21st and final Volvo Masters title.
www.europeantour.com / www.titleist.com
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