Pádraig admits he’s his own worst enemy

UNLIKE the majority of his contemporaries, Pádraig Harrington’s main rival is neither Tiger Woods nor Phil Mickelson or Ernie Els or even young Rory McIlory but still himself.

Harrington will tee up on a rain-saturated Horizon Hills course looking to quash those inner demons and correct a slide down the rankings plus qualify for next month’s season-ending Dubai World Championship.

The Dubliner dropped four places to 83rd on the world rankings after missing the cut in last week’s Barclays Singapore Open, while he also slipped two spots to 76th in the Race to Dubai.

But as Harrington hit practice balls in continuing sauna-like conditions those watching trust the sweat is all worth it.

“Players like Phil [Mickelson] can say that Tiger is still his biggest rival but the battle for me has always been myself, and it’s still myself,” he said.

“I’m my own biggest rival and that’s always been the case.”

Harrington took centre stage on the eve of his defence of the Iskandar Johor Open in steamy Malaysia as he seeks to retain a major tournament title for only the second time in his career.

He had his hands back on the gleaming trophy in a photo shoot yesterday but so did five others, including fellow British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen and American Anthony Kim, who lost a play-off to McIlroy three weeks ago in Shanghai.

“I would be delighted to beat these five guys this week, but it certainly wouldn’t guarantee that I’d win the tournament,” said Harrington

“But it’s always better to focus on your own game rather than on anyone else. All you can do is just give your best and see where it takes you.”

Last year, Harrington returned home with an additional item of wardrobe in his luggage, a purple Iskandar Johor Open winner’s jacket.

And while Harrington would dearly love a second, he also continues to harbour aspirations of still being fitted around early April with a green jacket bearing a gold map of America on the breast pocket.

“The purple jacket is at home with about four or five other jackets I’ve got,” said Harrington.

“I was presented with a red jacket for winning the Hong Kong Open and I’ve also got one for winning the Dunlop Phoenix Open and one or two others.

“But it would be very nice if I could add a green one to the wardrobe. That would be very special.”

Competitors arrived earlier this week facing a par 72 test but the continued heavy rain will see the par-four fourth hole play to a par three, while the par for the Malaysian course has been reduced to a par 71.

The fourth hole measured 361 yards (330 metres) but competitors now face a 198-yard (181 metres) hole.

And as was the scenario last week at the rain-affected Singapore Open, a ‘lift-clean-and-play’ rule is in effect.

“The course is just so wet that on some of the fairways balls are completely burying themselves,” said Michael Hoey.

“It’s a lot different to last week’s Sentosa course in Singapore because the water drained pretty good but we’re having a downpour every day here at Horizons.

“It’s going to make for a tough week but at least the organisers have moved one tee forward as the fourth is one of the wettest holes out there.”

Joining Harrington and Hoey are four other Irish in Damien McGrane, Peter Lawrie, Gareth Maybin, Niall Turner and Paul McGinley.

This week will be McGinley’s last event of the year as he will soon undergo surgery on his troublesome left knee.