Harrington looking for a revolution in France
Although one of the most lucrative tournaments on the European Tour, it hadn’t suited the Irishman’s schedule up to then and this was his first time to compete at Le Golf National.
He did so largely because he was so far back in the European Ryder Cup points list, having concentrated for the most part up that year on non-counting events in the US. And as the clash with the Americans was due to be played on Irish soil only a short few months later, captain Ian Woosnam was anxious a key man like Harrington should play his way into the side.
So Pádraig agreed to tee it up in the French capital and fully justified the decision by finishing second, picking up €444,440 in prize money and the same number of cup points, and more or less clinching his place at the K Club.
He birdied the final two holes – widely regarded as among the toughest on tour – to close with a 66 for a 10-under par total of 274, one behind England’s John Bickerton. Later that year Harrington also led the European Tour order of merit, due in no small measure to his achievements in Paris.
He didn’t return to France in 2007 or 2008 but now, in keeping with his strategy of playing two events immediately before a major championship, he is back again this week. And as it happens, he badly needs a big performance, just as was the case in 2006.
By his own very high standards, this has been a desperately poor season for the 37-year-old Dubliner and after missing the cut in five of his last six tournaments, people are beginning to wonder just what has gone wrong with a player capable of winning two major titles last year and another in 2007.
The man himself sees no reason for concern, imploring his supporters to be patient just as he himself has been over the last trying weeks and months. One little thing can change everything, he insists, and it’s just a case of letting it happen.
“This game is fickle but I believe it can come around in four weeks and I believe I will be ready by the time I tee it up at the Open,” he proclaimed after missing the cut by eights shots at the US Open.
“I suppose with my current form, there is more hope than expectation but I’ll do the same preparation for the Open as I did last year. That’s all I can do.”
All will wish him well as he goes in search of a hat-trick of claret jugs. However, it remains to be seen whether the water-strewn Le Golf National course and the tigerish European Club links, where he defends the Irish PGA Championship next week in his final outing before the Open at Turnberry, are best suited to a man struggling so evidently with his game at present.
Having begun the year in third spot, Harrington has now slipped to 11th in the world rankings and is a lowly 73rd on the Race to Dubai European Tour order of merit with 248,919, miles behind the leader Paul Casey, who has 1,949,841 points to his credit and the hugely impressive Rory McIlroy, showing the way for Ireland in third place with 1,314,987.
If things were to continue in this vein, Harrington wouldn’t even get to play in the lucrative end-of-season tournament in the Gulf next November.
As he himself says, however, all that could change in a blink and one could hardly think of a better place to start the process than Paris this week.
McIlroy is a notable absentee but Graeme McDowell, Paul McGinley, Damien McGrane, Darren Clarke, Peter Lawrie, Shane Lowry, Michael Hoey, Gary Murphy and Gareth Maybin are also in the field. Along with Harrington, other big names contending include Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Angel Cabrera and John Daly.
Over in the United States, Tiger Woods heads the entry for the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club near Washington. This is a US Open venue of considerable stature and Woods – who hosts the event – regards a much-improved putting display almost as important as victory as he gets set for Turnberry.
He was distinctly unhappy with his short game at Bethpage the other week although there were a few veiled hints that the greens rather than any shortcomings on his part were largely to blame.
Phil Mickelson is a notable absentee and indeed is almost certain to miss Turnberry as well as he plans to be at his wife Amy’s side as she undergoes treatment for breast cancer tomorrow.
England’s Paul Casey and Justin Rose are the main European contenders in the field.
