Pádraig sets his sights on Euro top spot
Harrington currently lies fourth on the Order of Merit, more than 1.2 million behind leader and world number two Ernie Els. And the dedicated Dubliner, one of the hardest workers in the game, admits golf has fallen further down his list of priorities since the birth of his first child Patrick on August 24.
Even so, the world number nine believes he can still overtake Els and improve on his second place finishes of the last two years.
Harrington, who was in New York's JFK airport on his way back from the NEC Invitational when wife Caroline gave birth, said: "Ernie is well ahead but not as far as he was last year and both Retief (Goosen) and I passed him.
"It's very possible. The Dunhill Links championship and American Express championship will have a big effect on it.
"It's in Ernie's hands if he plays well but if any of the players up there can perform in those two events they have a chance of catching him and passing him."
Harrington did just that by winning the Dunhill Links last year and first prize of more than 800,000 but the 32-year-old admitted: "Golf has become a lower priority.
"It's slipped one step further down the ladder but I still believe I can give everything I need to golf to get as far as I can. Having Patrick will probably do me good. I've worked hard for five years knowing the day would come when I wouldn't have as much time to spend on it.
"I had two weeks off and didn't see my coach Bob Torrance once, and that's unheard of, but I wanted to spend time at home. It's a nice distraction to have."
Despite not consulting Torrance since returning from America, Harrington has nevertheless been tinkering with his swing.
The Irishman was missing lots of shots out to the right as he was not drawing the ball as he used to, but insists he is still out to win the last edition of the Lancome Trophy.
"I've been experimenting and wanted to come out and try it out in competitive play. This is a good test," added Harrington.
Meanwhile Darren Clarke returns to European competition for the first time since his sensational victory at the WGC NEC Invitational in Ohio two weeks ago when he tees up in his native Ulster on the European Challenge Tour for the Benmore developments Northern Ireland Masters at Clandeboye GC.
Clarke, will donate any winnings he accrues this weekend to the Darren Clarke Foundation an initiative he launched to fund and promote junior golf in Ireland
"Out of all the changes I've made, every one has had its own important part to play," Clarke said at Clandeboye. "I've been going through a period where I've been playing very well and not putting scores on the board so it was very good to go to Firestone and not only win but win in the manner in which I did. That was a great boost for me.
"I wasn't at all surprised by that though, I just went out there on the last day and played the way I knew I could. Akron didn't save my season because I wasn't having a disastrous season. I was having a disappointing season from the point of view that I wasn't winning tournaments.
"I decided to change at the end of last year after a disappointing season and I felt that I wanted to do better so I had to look at certain things and I had to make changes. What is it they say 'The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again with the same results'."
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