Nothing fazes Open minded Harrington

Not since Australian Peter Thomson in 1956 has any player completed a hat-trick of wins in the Open Championship. But Pádraig Harrington hasn’t dismissed the possibility of joining golf’s immortals next week. Charlie Mulqueen reports.

PEOPLE who read in the newspapers and listen on radio and television to Pádraig Harrington’s explanations for his miserable form of late must believe the man is in denial. So how is his self belief when it comes to defending the Open.

“My confidence in myself has not taken a hammering at all. I’m still very upbeat and very focused on what I’m doing and very positive and optimistic. Over the years, I’ve made very sure to focus on process rather than results, but when you have a lean span of results over a period of time, you definitely get a little bit more conscious of them.”

I suspect I’m one of a majority who simply cannot understand why Harrington decided to tinker with the swing that so memorably earned him three major championships in 2007 and ‘08. He insists that standing still would be the wrong thing to do and that he would inevitably be overtaken by his rivals. While well aware of the public perception, he is totally unapologetic.

“Obviously, some people are commenting and some are trying to avoid the subject,” he mused. “But I will talk to people who are close to me, whether it be Ronan (Flood, his caddie) or Bob Rotella (mind coach). I did make a change in my swing at the start of the year. Now, I’m not focused on it, because I’ve got to the bottom of what it was and how to correct it. Once you know what you want to do, it will slowly develop into your game.”

There is a body of opinion that maintains Harrington has allowed Rotella and his swing coach Bob Torrance to have too much of a say in the development of his career.

“The great thing about Bob Rotella is that he never tells you anything differently,” explains Harrington. “He’s like Bob Torrance in that respect. It’s incredible. They don’t change their minds. It’s the same story all the time. There’s nothing new. What they told you ten years ago is still relevant today and it’s a question of you listening and working on that.”

It’s hard not to think of the history he would make should he join Peter Thomson as the only players in the 20th and 21st centuries to win the Open in three successive years.

“It would be very special for it to happen,” he agrees. “But again, I am realistic about these things and am looking at it in an overall context. I want to compete in many majors and to win more majors. The idea that it has to be the next one is not how I go about things. I’d rather win two over five years than one this year. I know three-in-a-row would be very special and it would be remarkable in terms of it not having been done since Peter Thomson.

“If it happens, I’ll be singing from the rooftops. But I’m better off taking this as a process. I’ve got probably another ten (Opens) where I’ll be competitive, and I’ll concentrate on winning as many of those as I can rather than trying to win the next one.”

Harrington has frequently claimed that it is easier to win a major championship than a run-of-the-mill tour event, a good reason why he seems more at home on the biggest occasions of all.

“It can come down to just playing really good golf for nine holes,” he argues. “As long as you’ve done nicely for the first 63, as long as you’ve held your head, held your patience for those 63 holes, you are in position. And there are few players that can win a major. I feel a lot more comfortable in that situation.

“You just know that you’re there for the long haul, and it’s about hanging in there and waiting for your opportunity. You could be six shots behind after round one and yet not even need to consider the guy who is leading the tournament. You’re thinking, well, he’s going to come back.”

Turnberry is arguably the most picturesque course on the Open rota, but Harrington has never competed there. He did have a practice round recently and arrives tomorrow in good time to fully acquaint himself.

“If you can stay out of the bunkers on the front nine you can get a good score going,” he reckons. “Assuming the weather is favourable, it’s a golf course that most players would like. There’s a number of doglegs and you’re going to have to be able to move the ball into the wind at times because that wind will be across those doglegs. The ability to shape the ball and hit the ball straight off the tee will be a big thing.

“I think links golf plays to my strength, but does this golf course play to my strength? Generally, you know, the two on which I’ve won are probably among the toughest courses on the rota. I don’t think Turnberry would be considered as tough as Carnoustie and Birkdale. I am hoping for some wind and conditions that would be conducive to patience and good mental thinking. I’m not saying that I have a God given right to perform in bad conditions, but if you throw in a windy day and maybe one miserable day, it certainly brings it down to 50% of the field that would compete.”