\u201cSnap another one!\u201d You find brave people in hospitality areas at golf tournaments. The order came to Li Haotong, moments after his caddie had delivered a broken lob wedge to a bin at the back of the Bay Hill driving range. \u201cFuck off!\u201d barked Li in immediate reply, with a gesticulation to match. What a scene.<\/p>\n
Gaining entry to the Arnold Palmer Invitational at the last minute, as a reserve, was not sufficient to boost Li\u2019s mood. He finished round one horribly, with a double bogey rounding off a 77. Li\u2019s tugged approach to the last (a bad workman etc) was plugged in a greenside bunker, from where he opted to putt. The ball crawled out of the sand, which Li booted in anger. The ranting continued all the way to and on the practice area, much to the amusement of assembled guests. Li\u2019s poor bag man was at the opposite end of a verbal tirade. It was pitiful, embarrassing petulance for which Li should be reprimanded by the PGA Tour.<\/p>\n
This further raised the issue of how golfers react in moments of adversity. Li can pretty much do as he pleases; the 71st-ranked golfer in the world, whose major appearances are rare, is anonymous. Not so Shane Lowry, whose painful finish at Sunday\u2019s Cognizant Classic placed him in full glare of the golfing world.<\/p>\n
Had Lowry won in South Florida, he would have received nothing close to the level of accolades that arrived in defeat. Lowry cracked two balls into water in successive holes, therefore letting a three-shot lead evaporate. This is a golfer whose talent level and dedication outweigh his CV, Lowry not having won in the US in an individual event since 2015. The stumble was a horrible one not just for Lowry but for those looking on.<\/p>\n
Lowry\u2019s response to sporting trauma was to front up. He stood before the media, adding emotion to the scenario by explaining his prime motivation was to lift the Cognizant trophy in front of his four-year-old daughter. Wizened observers gulped. It was wise to let Lowry skip press duties after a 74 to begin at Bay Hill. Europe\u2019s Ryder Cup hero had dropped a shot at the last. \u201cI have been there, it is not great,\u201d said Lowry\u2019s playing partner Xander Schauffele of what transpired days earlier. \u201cYou don\u2019t really want to see it.<\/p>\n
\u201cShane told me this is his 18th season. If you\u2019ve been playing the game long enough you\u2019ve kind of done it all. So he has probably finished up really clutch before and unfortunately he didn\u2019t do that. That part of that course there, it\u2019s pretty scary and it\u2019s really rewarding if you\u2019re able to get it done. You need some things to go your way and you need to hit some really good shots. I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll bounce back from it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Justin Rose dropped the shoulder in a manner peak Lionel Messi would have been proud off despite a Bay Hill 70; one quick broadcast interview and straight to the range. Rose, like Lowry, is typically obliging but appeared agitated by his game.<\/p>\n