Pádraig the man with a plan as he sets sights on Gleneagles

Pádraig Harrington may be languishing 59th in the world rankings right now but he begins his 2013 campaign in the €2m Volvo Champions event at Durban Country Club, South Africa with confidence.

It is a confidence based on a plan which has set targets for the year ahead. The first is to get back into the world top 50 and qualify for all the big-money events. The second is to launch an intensive challenge to return to the European Ryder Cup team at Gleneagles in 2014.

The identity of the captain should be known in eight days and if the decision in Abu Dhabi next Tuesday by the Tour’s Tournament Committee comes down in favour of Paul McGinley or Darren Clarke, he will be primed for a spot on the team.