Padraig Harrington takes time out from coach Bob Torrance
Padraig Harrington has decided he needs a break from Bob Torrance, the coach who helped him win three majors and whom he has called "a genius".
After missing the cut in the Irish Open on Friday the Irishman, who has slipped from No3 to No64 in the world, said: "I'm not thinking of changing personnel. I've got to change something in myself, attitude or something along the lines of that."
But the Dubliner, 40 at the end of August, then analysed what needed to be done to reignite his spark and told reporters: "We haven't split. We are having a break because I am getting very frustrated. Until I am ready to listen to what he has to say, we are having a break."
Harrington starts life without the 79-year-old father of the former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron this week, with the final major of the season – the US PGA Championship – coming straight afterwards.
He has not won a Tour event in the US or Europe since the last of his three majors came in the US PGA three years ago, although he captured the Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia late last season.
Torrance, one of the most respected coaches in the game, said: "He's like a son to me and I hope we can get back together. We've been together for 15 years and I wasn't really expecting this, but I know he's been unhappy,
"His game is in a bad shape because of his mind – I've said that to him – but he's determined to make changes."