“The Odd Couple” is a fantastic 1968 film starring Jack Lemon and Walter Matthau. It’s the story of two divorced men who decide to share a flat and expenses, and the myriad of adventures that ensue. Some, the older ones in the place, surely thought of this film, even if only fleetingly, when they heard the news that Jorge Campillo and Vincent Norrman were going to play together in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a PGA Tour pairs tournament that starts today at the TPC Louisiana.
Where does this connection come from? What is the relationship between Norrman and Campillo? It is well known that Spaniards and Italians spend many hours, golf and dinners, on the DP World Tour, or even that there is a fairly close relationship with many French players, but between ours and the Swedes, there has never been a particularly strong link. Much less if we take into account that Norrman has barely been through Europe, as his base since he turned professional is the United States.
Well, it all started in September last year. The DP World Tour put them together in the first two rounds of the BMW PGA Championship. From there, they started a relationship that has been consolidating, among other things because they share the same coach, Liam James. Precisely, Ten Golf has spoken in the last few hours with James, who is in Louisiana accompanying the two players. Surely, today nobody knows the swing of these two players better than him.
Liam is convinced that the two can do a great job in Zurich. “They played together in Wentworth last year and they got along very well. They have become good friends. It has been good for Jorge to have a familiar face when arriving at the PGA Tour”, he points out. Regarding their performance, “I think they can be very strong, absolutely. They can get along very well. They are good personalities. That’s good. Vincent is a long hitter and Jorge goes very straight”.
James believes they can shine both in the fourballs format (four balls) and in the foursomes (alternate shots). “For the fourballs it’s very good that Campi hits many fairways, goes very straight, and that’s going to allow Vincent to risk more with his hitting. And for the foursome I also see them strong. Norrman makes a lot of distance and Jorge is very good with the medium and short irons. He can leave them very close. Norrman’s strength is distance and Campi’s is that he goes very straight. Good mix. I think, together, they will do a good job”.
As a coach, he is also aware of the aspects that both can still improve. Liam assures that “all players have room for improvement. Vincent, for example, has been working hard on the short irons, the shots that make a result. Meanwhile, Campi has also been working a lot on going straighter from the tee. I’m really looking forward to seeing them this week. I think they will be a very good pair”, he concludes.
