Pádraig enthralled by Mickelson’s Masters magic

HE MIGHT have been watchingthe action five miles from roarsat Amen Corner but Pádraig Harrington was caught up in the emotion of the Masters like any other golf fan.

“It was very entertaining to watch. I enjoyed it,” Harrington said. “I really didn’t know who would win. I thought KJ Choi had a great chance too, as did Lee Westwood. Things weren’t looking great for Phil after 10 and 11, but once he birdied 12 it was a different story. He played the golf and he deserved to win.”

Harrington is close to both Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood and said he was pulling for both, adding that Mickelson’s incredible final round play was great for the game.

“Phil was excited. You could see it in his face,” he said, “And he played such exciting golf. I think it was a good week for golf with Tiger back and Mickelson winning. There were plenty of fireworks and high viewing figures for TV. Nobody is complaining that 16 under won the tournament.”

Mickelson has now moved into a different major class to Harrington. With Tiger Woods on 14 majors, the Dubliner was in an elite chasing group of active players alongside fellow three-time major winners Mickelson, Vijay Singh and Ernie Els.

“I think it’s good for golf and shows that Phil can move on from here,” Harrington said. “He’s got four majors now. He’s in a new club and it’s something [for me] to chase. But it is not going to motivate me any more. I am trying hard enough to win majors as it is and I don’t need to try any harder.”

As for Mickelson’s wonder shot to the 13th, Harrington said: “It was an impressive shot, sitting on pine needles. Was it a six iron? Gee, he hits his irons a long way.”

Harrington reckons Woods simply ran out of steam after an exhausting and stressful week. Level with Mickelson on six under through 36 holes, Woods was five under at the weekend compared to 10 under for his arch rival.

“It looks like the stress and the emotions finally caught up with Tiger,” Harrington said. “There is always more asked on the weekend in a major. It is a longer week than most and while there is a certain stress and pressure on a Thursday and Friday, it is different on the weekend. You have got to be mentally very strong and fresh to go for all four days.

“Mind you, he wasn’t that far away in the end. He broke par every day and considering the way he played on Saturday and Sunday, it was very impressive score.”

While Harrington dropped out of the world’s top 10, falling one place to 11th, and Rory McIlroy slipped from 11th to 12th, the Dubliner does not believe that his Ulster rival should be putting too much pressure on himself to win majors just yet.

“I am sure he is (putting too much pressure on himself), but he shouldn’t be,” Harrington said.

“He’s got another 20 years and more to play majors. He shouldn’t be too worried about things at the moment.”