Marked man Immelman is hoping for some Missouri breaks
masters champion struggling with the adulation, but ready to make strong challenge in the BMW championship
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MASTERS champion Trevor Immelman is still struggling to cope with the adulation and expectation which comes with being a major winner.
In Missouri for the BMW championship, Immelman is a marked man. He stopped to accommodate the gallery, autographing a number of Masters flags.
“I wish somebody had told me to count them,” he said. “I’ve probably signed, I’d say conservatively, 70 a week since the Masters. They must make a fortune on them.”
But the 28-year-old South African isn’t complaining. Major championship notoriety is a good thing.
“It’s been a little hectic, just having to take care of other things and having to divide my time a few other ways,” he said. “That’s just things that you have to deal with. Every-one wants that problem.”
Immelman has not won since that stirring victory at Augusta in April. But he came close with a play-off second in the Stanford St Jude Classic in June and tied for 19th the Open at Royal Birkdale. He has been close to finding the form he discovered at Augusta National and he is getting closer.
“I’m hitting the ball really well,” said Immelman, who tied for 50th in the Deutsche Bank championship on Monday. “It hasn’t translated into my scores yet but I’m starting to feel good about my game again, so I’m looking forward.”
Not unlike two-time 2008 major championship winner Padraig Harrington, Immelman finds himself in a contentious place where the FedEx Cup play-offs are concerned. Although he owns one of the four most sought-after victories of the year and although he has more than £1.1million in earnings, he must play well at Bellerive, Missouri, this week to advance among the top 30 to the tour championship in Atlanta this month.
Immelman is 21st in the points parade. Harrington is 44th, meaning the Irishman probably needs something especially strong at Bellerive to stay involved.
“I don’t think we have the right system now,” Immelman said. “Do I think there is a possibility of getting something going? Yes, but it might still take a few more years. We just need to make sure we don’t lose supporter interest in the few years we’re trying to sort the system out.
“I don’t think it’s fair we have a guy who has made more than £1million in prize money not getting into the tour championship.
“That to me would be wrong. Harrington is going to be the player of the year. How can you not have the player of the year and two-time major winner in the tour championship?”
