Harrington battles to get into Ryder Cup picture

HE has turned 40, fallen to 89th in the world rankings and lost his most benevolent sponsor.

Yet as always, Pádraig Harrington remains full of self-belief, on the surface at any rate.

He is adamant his swing has never been better and that hard work and patience will return him to Major winning glories.

It was such outstanding achievements along with his massive worldwide popularity that prompted the American consultancy company FTI to offer the Dubliner a three-year contract believed to be worth over $10m — an agreement they have decided not to renew.

He has managed just one tournament win since while his best finishes in 2011 were 8th in Houston; 9th in Quail Hollow and 10th in the WGC Cadillac at Doral. As his world ranking tumbled, he missed out on a WGC event, the HSBC in Shanghai last November, for the first time in his career.

And that trend will continue unless he enjoys a good start to the year, beginning with the Volvo Champions event starting at Fancourt near George in South Africa on Thursday with Darren Clarke, Michael Hoey and Damien McGrane completing the Irish quartet.

From there, Harrington moves to the Abu Dhabi Championship before the AT & T Pro-Am at Pebble Beach and the Northern Trust Los Angeles Open. From a starting base of 89th, he needs to improve a minimum of 25 places to get among the 64 who contest the WGC Accenture World Match Play in Arizona next month and must be in the top 50 if he is to contest the WGC Cadillac tournament a few weeks later. These events are top heavy with money and precious world ranking points.

“If I don’t get into these WGC events, it will be difficult for me to get into the European Ryder Cup team,” Harrington acknowledges.

“I must play the right events, otherwise the Ryder Cup will not happen for me.”

He required a controversial “wild card” pick from captain Colin Montgomerie for his place at Celtic Manor in 2010 but there is little chance of such benevolence from new skipper, Jose-Maria Olazabal, with whom he has had one or two scrapes over the years and who will have a queue of big names lining up for selection.

So can Harrington get back anywhere near where he was at the end of 2008? It won’t be easy but I believe he can.

His game is in better shape than the statistics (ugly and all as they are) suggests while his mental attitude is as strong as ever. If that’s the case, then all he may need is some good luck, a vital ingredient in a sport where the bounce of a ball can mean the difference between success and failure.

Just under a year ago, he shot a 65 to claim the first round lead in Abu Dhabi only to be disqualified for a tiny infringement. The rule in question has been amended since. Who knows what might have happened had he been able to continue and gone on to win that event? Who knows whether that blow preyed on his mind all year? Who knows if switching coaches from Bob Torrance to Pete Cowen, won’t have the desired result?

It could be that the next few weeks will answer those crucial questions. Harrington can’t allow too much of 2012 to pass by without making a serious impression on his world ranking.

If any one has the mindset to do it, it is Pádraig Harrington. Golfing Ireland wishes him the very best.