Harrington itching to get new season into swing

PÁDRAIG Harrington last night spoke about his plans for the year and the work he still has to do to command a place in the European team.

He spoke on the occasion that one of his chief sponsors, O2 Ireland, announced an even greater level of support for this year’s Ryder Cup at The K-Club.

He is currently halfway through his traditional nine-week end of season break but admits he is now feeling the urge to get back into action, no doubt prompted at how several rivals are making hay while he has his feet up.

“I am anxious to get going,” he said. “Part of that is because I’ve had a rest, part of it is that golf has started up and you see it on TV, and say you wish you were there.

“I have a lot to do to make the team. There are not that many spots and two or three guys are already in; you’re looking at Monty, McGinley and Howell. You’ve nine spots left so it is probably better to see three guys in the team who would have qualified anyway.”

Harrington originally saw the World list as his best chance of accumulating the necessary number of points (1.5 million by Paul McGinley’s reckoning) but now he’s changing tack just a little.

“I’ve added European Tour events to my schedule to give myself a chance of qualifying off both tables,” he revealed. “I’m playing Wentworth, and the British Masters at The Belfry is one where I have played well in the past. I’m more or less playing the same schedule as I played in the States last year. My schedule is very nearly finalised, although I’m not sure where I’m starting, either Malaysia or LA.”

By mid-summer and depending on how the Ryder Cup is looking, he will decide whether he needs to play more events in Europe.

“Hopefully,” he comments, “I can start resting up so as to be fresh and strong for the Ryder Cup rather than trying to get in on my last legs.

“We have the Americans more motivated than before and I think we’d have a much better chance of winning this year if we’d lost the last one. The fact we’ve won the last two means the US will be really motivated, they’ll be up for it. They’ll not be underdogs, they’ll have a little extra adrenalin.”

Harrington admits captain Ian Woosnam was the “obvious choice if we weren’t going to have an Irishman.” “He will be more of an emotional captain and I feel that’s where his strength will be. He wears his emotions on his sleeve. He is a different character to Bernhard [Langer] who covered all bases and was so organised. I’m sure Woosie will do that as well but I expect to see him nearly like a football team captain inspiring his players.”

O2 Ireland has been the official sponsor of The Ryder Cup since 2003 and has now upgraded its arrangement to make it one of six official partners of The 2006 Ryder Cup.