Golf Irish Open Jose-Maria Olazabal buried himself deeper into his sweater and, hunching his shoulders, cast a knowing glance towards the ever-darker clouds gathering overhead. The Spaniard has been coming to Ireland long enough to know what to expect from the weather gods.
"A nice summer's day," someone remarked with just the right edge of sarcasm. "Yes, really lovely," he replied. He's been around these parts long enough to know too there's no point complaining.
For Olazabal, it's good to be back; not just in Ireland, but on the PGA European Tour. The Irish Open is like an old friend, with an association that dates back to a debut appearance in 1986.
This year, though, Olazabal is using it to get reacquainted with his roots and, into the bargain, aiming to maintain the momentum of some good work on the US Tour where, despite playing without a card and reliant on invitations, he has improved his world ranking from 126th at the start of the year to 59th.
Still, that 59th position still leaves him tantalisingly outside automatic starts in the US Open and the British Open. "I've a few things I have got to take care of the next two weeks," observed Olazabal.
He has until the end of May to break into the top 50, which is why the Irish Open and next week's BMW Championship at Wentworth have particular significance.
The need to Olazabal to play in majors is paramount. It's where he competes against the world's best and, last year, he didn't play in either the US Open or the British Open for the first time since 1996 when his year was ruined by a foot problem eventually diagnosed as rheumatoid polyarthritis in three joints of his right foot and two in his left. He was subsequently to prove his fighting spirit by recovering to win a second US Masters in 1999.
What we've seen of Olazabal on the US Tour so far this season, however, has provided hints of his old self.
After a wicked season last year, which left him without his card stateside, Olazabal has been revitalised.
In nine outings, he has had four top 10s - including losing a play-off to Phil Mickelson in the BellSouth - and has earned $1,123,232 to be 22nd on the US Tour money list, more than double he earned in all of last season's miserable campaign.
The reason for his transformation is a straightforward one, nothing to do with rocket science. "This year, I've hit the ball better, it's as simple as that. If you hit more fairways, you hit more greens. It's easier to score when you do things properly," he said, adding: "I never lost hope, you know. I knew that if I didn't improve my driving or my game, I would not be able to compete."
Still, despite his golfing renaissance, its been almost three years since Olazabal last captured a title. Back in 2002, he won the Hong Kong Open on the European Tour and captured the Buick Invitational on the US Tour. These days, the desire to get back into the winner's enclosure burns deeply.
"All you can do is just play good golf and knock on the door. Sooner or later, that door will open. It's just a matter of playing good golf and giving myself chances. If I do that, the win will come."
Olazabal's only Irish Open win came in 1990 at Portmarnock. Given his commitment down the years to playing in the tournament, it would seem that a second title is overdue. Who knows?
