Harrington wary of Shinnecock wind

Padraig Harrington has predicted mayhem at this week’s US Open – if the wind changes.

Shinnecock Hills on New York’s Long Island hosts the event for the first time since 1995 and the Dubliner has been told that four different winds blew when Corey Pavin won then with a level par total.

“It’s tough even when you know it. If the wind changes a lot more mistakes will be made,” commented Harrington after practising on the closest thing America has to a British or Irish-style links.

“I’m not as familiar as I could be or should be (with the conditions). As a professional golfer I tend to play more and more stadium courses.

“Certainly I look at the shots and think ‘Wow, how can you possibly get the ball there?’ As an amateur I might well have been able to manage it, but I hit the ball higher than I did then.

“I’ve remodelled my swing in order to be able to play better in the States. But to hit it longer in the air isn’t good for this week.

“You use more drivers here than most US Open courses because if you don’t you’re having to hit second shots from further away and it’s harder to hold the greens.”

On Sunday, Harrington had the 23rd runners-up finish of his career, losing a play-off to Sergio Garcia in the Buick Classic at Westchester.

“Eighteen holes and 18 tee-boxes. Those are the similarities to last week. But hopefully I am getting to the stage where I can compete from day one in the majors and get myself in a position on Sunday to win,” he said.

“I’m totally indifferent at this stage to all the seconds. I’ve got used to them. I’m not going to spend too much time thinking or worrying about it.

“It’s just one of those things. I’m just waiting for it to turn the corner, to go all my way at some stage.”