Harrington has Georgia on his mind

Pádraig Harrington admits that with less than three weeks to the start of the Masters, he’s getting anxious at the thought of being home on the couch watching TV coverage of the season’s first Major.

However after bogeying the last hole in a second straight round of 70 on day two of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Harrington sought to laugh off the fact he’s yet not qualified for what would be a 15th straight appearance at the ‘Golfing Cathedral in the Pines’.

“You know what I would be saying today normally, because normally I would be saying I am building up lovely for the Masters, but I’m not in the Masters,” he said smiling.

“But it’s getting heavier on my mind (laughing) but then I won’t be happy sitting at home watching it on TV, given I have been at every Masters since 2000.”

And not having won a main tour event since capturing the 2008 PGA Championship, as well dropping to 152nd on the World Rankings, means Harrington’s now used up all his exemptions to qualify for the year’s first Major.

“Most years I’d go to Augusta with three or four entry qualifications, and I’ve only missed one Major since 2000 and that was St Andrews 2005, when my father passed away,” he said.

“But you know what, I don’t particularly care for streaks or anything like that. I just care for the fact that I may not qualify for the Masters deservedly on merit, given I am not top 50 in the world or whatever.

“I just know that if I am sitting at home, I am going to feel a bit of anxiety knowing that I’m not going to be there with a chance, and if you’re not into the Masters, you can’t win.”

And when quizzed if his pride would be hurt should he not tee up at Augusta, Harrington responded: “There’s not a bit of lost pride should I not qualify for Augusta and it’s just that I will be missing out on another Masters.

“There’s no room out here for pride and there is no place in golf for that as the standard out here is good.”

Fellow Irishman Graeme McDowell dropped three shots in his last two holes and failed to make one birdie in a score of 77, and his second highest in 22 Bay Hill rounds, to drop to one over par.

World No. 2 Adam Scott strengthened his grip on the competition last night, firing a 68 to stand 14 over.