That viral Padraig Harrington-Roger Maltbie Dust-up? Here’s what sparked

Padraig Harrington was sailing through his round opening in the US Senior Open on Thursday. After a four-Zogjsh 32 in nine forward VastThe birth rate at Colorado Springs, Colo., Harrington imagined his first five holes on the back and seemed as though he could be the only player on the field playing without a round.

Then came his shot at 464-Oborri par-4 15.

Harrington drew his driver and pulled the ball into a thickness of left trees from the road. When Harrington and his caddy, Ronan Flood, arrived in the area where the Harrington ball was gone, the search was on: marshals, officials, Harrington and Flood, all rooting through the leaf with the hope of discovering Harrington’s ball. below Rules 18.2They had no more than 3 minutes to hunt.

Not among the search party participants was the group Walking reporter in the group, NBC’s Roger Maltbie. Practice is common for analysts in the course to help players find their balls, but in this case, Maltbie told Golf.com in a telephone interview on Saturday morning, he was unable to help because his manufacturer had asked Maltbie to prepare a report in the air.

“I can’t make it from inside the thick of trees,” Maltbie said. “So I stayed out, and then (Harrington) walked next to me and he said,” You can help search for the ball, “and I just didn’t answer.” Maltbie said the ball was deep in the tree and “the chances of finding it were few,” but despite, he said, he was unable to help; His priority was his setting to describe the action for viewers.

While Harrington’s search time began to expire, an official in the group did something unusual, Maltbie said. Instead of simply warning Harrington and flooded that their time was almost growing, the official counted for 10 seconds: 10, 9, 8, 7…, Which Maltbie said made a tense tense situation. “He’s counting it, right?” Said Maltbie. “And then he says,” That’s it, here’s a wheelchair, the ball is lost. “”

Harrington returned to tee and hit a second ball (his third blow) to the right. From there, Harrington hit a great approach at about 15 meters and greeted Putti for a bold noise.

In the rest, in par-3 16, things were even more strained, Maltbie said. While Maltbie’s discoverer was looking at Harrington’s bag to try and assume what the Harrington club was using, Flood told Spotter to “piss,” Maltbie said. “So this was the first data we had that the Harrington camp is not very happy.”

Maltbie said that in that hole he also took the “side eye from the padraig several times” – “No word is exchanged, only the side eye”.

Anyway, on Friday, the words were exchanged – enough of them, in fact, in a The now-viral scenes This was captured by the local TV reporter Brett Forrest, and which is annoying given that Harrington and Maltbie are two of the most friendly figures in the game. Here’s what happened:

When Harrington, who had shot 67 for part of the first round lead, had finished his second round Friday and signed for 67 others who would ultimately keep him connected to the lead, Maltbie approached Harrington outside the marking. He wanted to clear the air.

“I just wanted him to know why I didn’t help look for the ball, right?” Said Maltbie. “I’ve never had a cross word with Padraig. I’ve been a Padraig fan all these years. However, I tried to explain,” Padraig, my manufacturer had told me to stay close to. They would come to me for a report. I couldn’t do it by looking for your ball inside those trees. So I didn’t get inside. “”

At the beginning of Forrest’s video, Maltbie can be heard saying, “So I should have disrespect my manufacturer?”

Moments later, Harrington says: “You have played golf all your life. You understand. You don’t stay looking for someone looking for a golf ball.”

Maltbie told Golf.com: “Whenever I tried to explain (my position), he said: ‘Ethics poor. golf To help someone in search of a ball, and that I need to know better after the years of play.

“I tried to say, hear, I have a boss. I’m not a player, and if I were a spectator or surely playing with him, I would have helped him look for his ball. But I was under instructions. It wouldn’t work. But he didn’t want any part of it.

“I was very close to saying,” all these years, all these checks I have received from NBC, your name is not in any of them. I mean, his cada works for him, so I’m sure his caddy does what Padraig tells him to do. Well, I have an employer, and if they tell me basically what I will do or what they want me, I have to honor him. But he just doesn’t see it. “

Maltbie added: “Padraig has a lot of thoughts, and some of them are quite contrary to what most people think, who is part of his charm, okay?

Harrington is following his second top title of US. Through the 36 holes in Broadmoor, he is connected to the lead, at six under, with Stewart Cink and Mark Hensby, everyone will play in the last group on Saturday, starting at 10:55 am with local time.

Walking with that group for NBC? Yes, Roger Maltbie.

“As a kind of luck he would have it, I will cover it today,” Maltbie said. “And if he is in the last group tomorrow, I will surely cover again tomorrow.”