"We [ed., me and Sergio] have zero in common, bar the fact that we both play golf. He is the antithesis of me, and I am the antithesis of him," said Harrington, who was yesterday named the European Tour's player of the year in recognition of his two major victories in 2008, at the Open Championship at Birkdale and the PGA Championship in Detroit.

"We play the game in exactly the opposite way. He is destined to find the long game easy and the short game hard, and I am the opposite," he said. "We're also competitors who for the last few years have been vying over who is the No1 golfer in Europe. I think in the hearts and minds of a lot of people García would have been No1, while I have been ranked No1. As you can imagine, no quarter is given. It is not as if we have ever had a row or a run-in. I have had plenty of run-ins with people and we would be friends but [with Garcia] it is just, well, we are just so much the opposite of each other."

How right Padraig is!! To be sure there are a number of relevant issues belching forth here for those of us who play the game. First off, it is clear that Padraig, no matter his golfing prowess, has no clue regarding human behavior, normal or otherwise. If he did, he would have likely stated his case with a bit more comprehensive detail, rather than a short, curt, snort.

It is certainly not complicated to understand the difference between the way an Analyzer (Harrington) perceives life and activity and the way a Persuader (Garcia) sees things. In fact it is the "rule," that Analyzers (usually privately) see Persuaders as immature, childlike, disorganized, superficial and impulsive. Meanwhile, Persuaders view Analyzers (openly and privately) as rigid, impersonal, boring, stiff and lack-luster.

What is there to like under such a default perception? But that is typical both in the world in general and "in spades" on a golf course. Beliefs and protocols have been adopted in golf over many years, often unnecessarily and unwittingly, readily revealing blind spots in nearly everyone's capacity to fully understand what goes on around them, and that wastes all sorts of human resources that each of us could use to advantage in the game, not to mention life.

Players don't seem to get it, and commentators regularly apply some standard of behavior that has been harvested by generations of subjective opinion. If you use a bit of recall, you might note how many times you have heard, "He's too flighty," or "He 's too cocky," or she never shows enthusiasm," or "She needs to be more like Annika." In every case, such comments will be on the heels of something a commentator notices that some personal preference for behavior that the reporter doesn't like, so the player's behavior is judged by the announcer's lack of knowledge and personal bias.

Donegan seems to come close to getting it, but the cigar is missing, as he proceeds to note:

"At the time many observers believed their [ed.,Paddy and Sergio] evident lack of personal warmth was a by-product of what was a fiercely contested tournament but Harrington conceded their antipathy was more deep-rooted."

"We play the game in exactly the opposite way. He is destined to find the long game easy and the short game hard, and I am the opposite," he said. "We're also competitors who for the last few years have been vying over who is the No1 golfer in Europe. I think in the hearts and minds of a lot of people García would have been No1, while I have been ranked No1. As you can imagine, no quarter is given. It is not as if we have ever had a row or a run-in. I have had plenty of run-ins with people and we would be friends but [with Garcia] it is just, well, we are just so much the opposite of each other."

It is a borderline "no-brainer" to refer to that "antipathy" as "deep-rooted," since the roots are genetic and date back to one's birth. What is even more interesting is that Harrington lodges his perception and words in what can only be called an "exception" to the rule. Since Analyzers usually hold their tongues and register such slashes either in the privacy of their minds or "safe-houses," it is worth observing that Padraig must have been considerably more angered by something than even his words suggest, or we would not be reading about it in a widely circulated journal. It remains to be seen what Sergio will have to say about it.

As close as comprehension appears to have come is cited by Donegan as follows: "The pair played practice rounds together at Valhalla and, after being teased by other team members about a photograph on the team room wall showing Harrington holing a crucial putt at the PGA Championship, García conceded he had wanted to smash the club over the Irishman's head."

If there is a point to be made, it is this. Knowledge of behavior styles, our own and that of others, is one of the more serviceable pieces of information avaliable to enable everyone in every corner of life and every task therein, to be more at ease in their walk through any arena or down any avenue and be less drained by troublesome, stressful concerns that are simply unnecessary. Understanding and recognition absolutely transcends any other way of moving about, while encouraging positive, mutually acceptable, productive results that minimize stressful waste of our resources from top to bottom.

Maybe it has not been clear how basic conservation of our energy really is, and how critical style knowledge may be to that process. If that is the case, this newsletter is a public announcement to promote a share in the greening of life that ultimately takes its place in the broader interest of our corporate world membership, of which golf is merely one small, but significant part.

To move back from Sergio and Padraig one small step, it is worth mention that fundamental style information needs occasional refreshment in our golfing portfolios, as well. Our styles will always be "in play" in our games, and that does not recede simply because we are not aware either of its presence, content or function, or have sufficient understanding of it. Mother Nature is not a capricious witch who seeks to confound golfers. She must make her appointed rounds, however, following the rules that she cannot alter without completely fouling the balance of the universe. So it is vital for us, if we wish to play the game at our best and its best, to go with her flow. It may seem more fun to be daring and live dangerously, and if that is one's choice, so be it. But that will not change the reality.

We have long since noticed that urging players to master useful information that could just be critically vital in securing the full benefits to be enjoyed from the game, tends to take a well worn back seat to the traditions of the past that call golfers to believe all they need do is learn to "control" their games and all will be well. So we will settle for an occasional reminder and hope that it falls on open ears and doesn't just seep along on open air currents, only to lodge in the ethereal atmosphere, becoming one more leak in the environmental cover.

In other words, this is one vote for "greengolf." And a thoughtful wish for a New Year pointed toward national and international recovery with golf in concurrence, not at loggerheads.