European Open:His eyes rolled to the heavens, not for the first time on this day of yet more heavy and consistent rainfall, as the latest bursts unleashed more unneeded water on to the rolling but saturated terrain of the Smurfit Course.
There hasn't been a rain-free day in over three weeks in these parts, and Angel Cabrera, the US Open champion, has been a regular enough visitor to Ireland - this is his 12th straight appearance in the European Open - to know rain is a common companion to big golf tournaments. He doesn't like it, but he accepts it.
He also knows the weather gods are not beholden to dispensing favours, even on new major champions.
But, then, Cabrera, wouldn't expect any favours. He does things his way.
Despite his new status in golf's upper echelon, you know Cabrera, of all people, won't change too much. For instance, instead of staying in the five-star hotel on site this week, the one-time caddie who has scaled golf's heights has decided to stay in the same hotel in nearby Maynooth that has been his regular haunt on previous visits.
"I stay wherever I'm going to be comfortable. Where I am staying, there are a lot of Argentine players. I'm not going to change that," he said.
For the past two weeks, Cabrera has been feted at home in Cordoba. It started with a five-mile motorcade from the airport to the city hall, and then one reception followed by another.
"It was a very nice moment and everybody was there, cheering for me. It was very nice."
The victory by "El Pato" - The Duck - at Oakmont even led to him temporarily taking over from the Argentina football team in the nation's sporting interest.
"For a very little time, attention was on golf . . . but, now, it's all back to normal. Everybody cares about football only."
Who knows what normality is for Cabrera any more, but the European Open is his first tournament since his US Open win. It also starts a build-up to the British Open at Carnoustie in a fortnight.
"The good thing about having won a major is, now, I know that I'm capable of winning one and, you know, maybe others will come. Having won one takes away some of the burden. I'm going to the British Open with one less burden, so it makes it easier for me," he said.
As for his future, Cabrera doesn't intend to flee the European Tour to make a new base on the US Tour. "It is possible that I might play in the US more than before, but I will be playing Europe as usual."
Cabrera has played in every European Open since his debut in 1996, his best finish being runner-up to Lee Westwood in 2000 when the tournament was played on the Palmer Course.
It remains to be seen if the chain-smoking Argentinian carries the momentum of Oakmont on to The K Club. When at home in Argentina, he didn't hit a single ball. But he was back on duty in the pro-am, where the toughest task for his caddie was not so much in dispensing yardages, as keeping his player's cigarettes dry.
