Harrington’s walk with Woods anything but spoiled

SIXTY NINE on such a favourable scoring day was no great shakes but Padraig Harrington was proud as a peacock as he walked off the Mount Juliet course yesterday.

He was still very much in contention for the million dollar first prize although four strokes behind playing partner Tiger Woods. Yet, it seemed the huge success of the day meant more to him than his actual standing in the $5.5 million American Express Championship.

“It was a great day for Irish golf and showcased the game in this country,” enthused the 31-year-old tournament professional at the superb Co Kilkenny complex. The course was phenomenal and the scoring has been so good because the greens are so good. Three under is only good enough for a share of 20th and that is down to the greens.

“The atmosphere was brilliant and the crowds were so appreciative. We were cheered on to every tee and green and I don’t think Tiger was outcheered. Most of the time, they were cheering for both of us and it was nice there should be equal support, it just goes to show the quality of these galleries. The weather certainly came out for us, if it was wet and windy it wouldn’t have been so much fun.”

Harrington thoroughly enjoyed his third competitive round in Woods’s company. They were both three under when the Irishman birdied the long 10th but after that Woods stepped up a gear.

Harrington couldn’t stay with the pace and admitted that “two very poor three putts at the 7th and 16th, both uphill, knocked back a good score”.

“I certainly would have been happy with five under. I could have been a bit more aggressive at times and I wasn’t because I hadn’t been flying with too much confidence coming into the tournament. I was struggling with my alignment and I prefer not to take things on at the moment. But I’m building my game back up all the time and I’m happy enough.”

Tiger and Padraig chatted amiably throughout the afternoon. “Nice touch, Paddy,” commented Woods, when Harrington set up a birdie at the long 17th with a splendid pitch.

Paddy? Yes, it sounded a trifle odd but the Irishman revealed he always tells anybody who has trouble pronouncing Padraig to call him Paddy instead.

“It was an absolute pleasure to play with Tiger, in fact he is very easy to play with because his manners are impeccable,” said Harrington. “He doesn’t tap in and run off. He’s always courteous and does the right things all the time. He’s quite a relaxed guy on the golf course. There was no comparison between playing with Tiger here and at Bethpage. On that occasion I was contending with the US Open more than anything.

“I didn’t try to make a match out of today. Neither of us have completed our preparation for the Ryder Cup so there’s no point in having a match a week previously. It would count for nothing. The more you see him at close range, the more the mystique of Tiger is washed away. You get used to it. If I hadn’t seen the round, I might have thought he was hitting drive and medium irons to the par fives but in fact he only birdied one of them, it’s really his iron play that has him up there. When it comes to the Ryder Cup I’ll have no problem with whom I’m playing against. If it’s Tiger, he’ll be the one under pressure because so much is expected of him.

“It was a memorable day, but not particularly so for me from a playing viewpoint because I would like more personal glory. But it was unquestionably a great day for Irish golf and the people who have come out. They have never seen these players and you have to see someone playing competitively to know how they really play.”

Harrington had to change his shoes after seven holes. He tried out the pair he will be using in the Ryder Cup but they were cutting into the foot he has strapped up because of an ongoing nagging injury.

On a more positive note, his physical problems are receding by the day and you have the feeling he will be spot on when the gun goes at The Belfry.