I am a professional golf teacher. Sergio's putting was previously an issue I would agree, but not around Carnoustie. To say that he should have made that putt ignores any knowledge of the game and the statistics of putting, let alone the pressure of that situation. I have watched the stroke he put on the ball. It is not a poor putt at all. It just didn't go in.

I sincerely hope that Sergio can get over this and move on. I truly hope he puts himself in that position in Majors again and again, but winning instead. He is a supreme talent. A brave player. Watch him in the Ryder Cup and you can see how brave a player he is.

If he had I am sure your story would have been about Harrington's 6 and finding the Burn twice in regulation play.

Rob, London, UK

The difference between Sergio and Tiger, Phil and the other great golfers who have won major championships is that they have accepted responsibility for poor shots, missed putts, etc. when coming up short instead of blaming their fate on the golf gods. Can you imagine Tiger blaming "luck" for losing a tournament.?

Luck might play part of the game, but all great golfers realize they're solely responsible for how they perform. I guess Sergio has yet to realize that had Harrington's drive on the 18th bounced one more time across that bridge and landed safely across, there would have never even been a playoff. That seemed like a bit of good luck for him, as did his hitting the pin on 16 in the playoff. If his ball doesn't hit the pin it's over the green, not 20 feet from the hole. Again, quite fortuitous for Sergio.

As long as Sergio continues to blame outside forces for his losses instead of looking in the mirrow, he will come up short when it counts.

Brian Barr, Danville, California/USA

Bad luck had nothing to do with it. Sergio held a 3 stroke lead, shot 73 while his closest competitors were shooting 67. He did indeed blow it, just as he has blown several other great chances.

It's sad listening to his excuses afterwards. If he believes what he said -- I think he does -- he will never win many big golf tournaments.

John Mewton, Miami, FL/USA

Of the top 5 Garcia played the best golf. He hit more greens in regulation, 51, than any of the others. He did not three putt once but had more putts, 8 more than Harrington. All golfers know that to hole putts much over 8 feet there is an element of luck. When a golfer holes a very long putt it is highly unlikely that he could repeat the feat if you asked him to do it again. Garcia just didn't have the best of luck. Of all sports, luck plays a large part in golf. If you can't accept this don't play the game. None of this should take anything away from Harrington, who is a very worthy winner.

Rodney Boyce, Lyme Regis, U K

I think your're being harder than necessary on Garcia; that wasnt a putt you could guarantee anyone sinking 100% of the time. Yes, he struggled over the final round - but his talent, skill courage aren't to be derided just because of this 2nd Place.

Mark, Warsaw, Poland

No mean achievement to come up with a sentence as repellant and absurd as the one that opens the piece:
"So, Sergio — for it is first-name terms for a young man enduring a pain like yours — how does it feel today?"
Perhaps the psychological investigation would serve more purpose if it were turned inward?

Benjamin, Nailsworth,

I think some of the vitriol in this article is a little unneccessary, though I suspect it is in part also a call to arms for Sergio.

His huge talents have not been realised at Majors where he lets the opposition back in with a chance, in a way that Tiger would not let happen by his sense of character allied to the quality of his play. Hopefully this painful loss will improve his mental character & determination, I'm sure he has the power.

A Sergio win would be so popular to everyone. I think everyone believes that he has the character to bounce back except maybe himself at the moment.

Sometimes the bitterest pills do the most good & after some rest, reflection & insight it would be lovely to see him come back with a more positive attitude to render bitter & cynical articles such as these redundant in future.

Thanks for the thrills (& spills) over the weekend Sergio, can't wait to see you receiving the big prizes very, very soon.

Jeremy, Farnham,

I feel that your commentary is unwarranted and unfair to Sergio. He played great this week and tried his heart out! Give him a break, he deserves one! You should be ashamed of yourself!

Tom, Hoschton, USA/Georgia

No need for all this slicing up of Sergio. He and all who understand the game are aware of what happened yesterday, so your opinin of the lad's psychology isn't required.

The difference between golfers and sports writers is simple.
Golfers understand how difficult the game is - especially when the pressure is on. Golfers at every level feel on-course heartache during most every round. For that reason we're always supportive of other players. Writers stand on the sideline waiting for train wrecks so thay can write stories about the failures of others. I suspect this leads writers to feel less impotent.

Brian Kilroy, Newark, Delaware/USA