Brian Harman tees off at 09:58 on Thursday in a bid to become just the eighth American to win multiple Claret Jugs. Can he do it? You’d be a fool to think he can’t. We caught up with him ahead of the upcoming Open Championship at Royal Troon where he’ll be hoping to create even more Harman history.
Brian Harman winning the Open Championship last year was never in the script. Before his glorious week at Royal Liverpool, the American was regarded as a brilliant pro, if unspectacular. He hadn’t won for six years, while his near-15 year professional career had only seen two top ten Major finishes.
But, as is often the case with this fickle sport, the three-time PGA Tour winner did the unexpected and created headlines with one of the most dominant displays in recent Major championship history. By Friday afternoon he was five shots clear from home favourite Tommy Fleetwood. He held firm, and by Sunday evening he had the Claret jug in his grasp.
Joining Left Handed Greatness
With the triumph, the he became just the third left-handed player to win The Open, joining Bob Charles (1963) and Phil Mickelson (2013). It moved him into the top ten players in the world, and effectively qualified him for his first ever Ryder Cup debut. His life had completely changed in the space of a week.
In a world where the golfing headlines are often dominated by distance and youth, it was refreshing to see the opposite. Harman is proof that you don’t need to be young or a big hitter to be good enough to win the grandest events. Golf, especially on a links course, is as much a mental game as it is physical.
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Can Harman become number 28?
This month he tees it up again on a British links, but this time it’s different; he’s a Major champion and he knows he can compete. If he can retain his status at the Champion Golfer of the Year, he will cement his name amongst some of the very best in the game. Only 27 players in the history of this game have ever triumphed twice.
However, history shows that defending the Claret Jug is an extremely challenging task. The last golfer to successfully defend the title was Padraig Harrington, who won at Carnoustie in 2007 and again at Royal Birkdale in 2008. Both of these triumphs happened when Harman was still an amateur.
Here, we caught up with the American ahead of his defence at Royal Troon later this month where he gave us an insight into his life since becoming a Major champion, while also reflecting on his time in the Middle East.
A year on, how has your life changed since becoming a Major winner? If so, how?
Brian Harman: The notoriety stuff has changed. How I’m viewed in the golf world has changed. But my life personally hasn’t changed. I’ve got a great family. They keep me really nice and grounded, so that part of my life certainly hasn’t changed.
What was the first thing that went through your mind after you sank the winning putt at Royal Liverpool?
Brian Harman: Not disbelief, but just elation. I was just so happy to have done what I did, and was ready to celebrate.
What did you make of your first appearance at the Dubai Desert Classic, and what did you think of Dubai in general?
Brian Harman: I very much enjoyed my time in Dubai. I was so impressed with the city, and I hope I have a chance to return.
What were your thoughts of the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club?
Brian Harman: It was certainly a lot more difficult than I thought it would be, but it was perfectly manicured – and a real test of golf.
What golf ball do you currently play with and what are the characteristics about the model that you particularly like?
Brian Harman: I love the Titleist ball. I switched to the Pro V1 back in 2017 from a different company and the effects were immediate, especially with how I’m able to flight iron shots into the wind. I can really control my trajectory. I don’t have to worry about the ball getting away from me. It’s just very, very, very predictable, and there’s nothing more important than having that consistency every time you tee it up.
How important is the fitting aspect when it comes to selecting the right golf clubs for your game?
Brian Harman: Probably one of the most critical things because every bit of a golf club that’s not fitted for your swing is an adjustment you’re going to have to make during your swing to hit the ball properly. So that’s probably one of the very first things that I recommend for anyone that’s just getting started.
Read how Harman won the 151st Open Championship
https://worldwide.golf/tour-news/harman-lifts-claret-jug/
What was your initial reaction to the New Titleist GT driver and what was it you saw performance-wise that made you want to switch into the product so quickly?
Brian Harman Well, I’m very peculiar about my equipment. I haven’t switched into anything new just because it’s a new thing, but it was pretty apparent immediately off the bat that GT is certainly faster and it goes really, really straight.
Final question, on footwear, what model do you currently play in and how important is it to see golf shoes as an important piece of performance apparatus?
Brian Harman: They’re certainly a part of my equipment. For me, it’s stability. When I go into the downswing and I’m really pushing off the ground, I need those shoes to really dig in and support the bottom of my feet and my ankles. I’m very peculiar about ’em, and I’ve been through many, many, many pairs trying to find the right ones, and I feel like I could wear just about any FootJoy shoe and have it be really, really good and reliable.
