Harrington won't rest on laurels

Padraig Harrington moved closer to golf’s ‘big five’ after his first victory on American soil but accepted he will have to continue winning if he is to break into an elite club.

Success at the second hole of a play-off – when world number two Vijay Singh inexplicably missed a two-foot putt – in the Honda Classic at Mirasol saw Harrington become the first Irishman to win on the PGA Tour.

It also elevated him two places to sixth in the world rankings behind Tiger Woods, Singh, Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson and Retief Goosen – who are all major winners and have a seemingly permanent grip on the top five places.

“There are a big five at the moment and it is a little bit of a step to reach them,” said Harrington.

“I’ve been patiently waiting. I’ve had nine weeks off and another couple of tournaments, and I’ve been losing world rankings points and I’ve been patiently saying: ‘Wait till I get my chance’.

“It’s nice to build my points up and get me back to right up there. I’m sure I’ll be not quite breathing down the necks of the top five, but in position to catch them up.”

However, Harrington knows he cannot rest on his laurels with The Players Championship, regarded as the fifth major, and the Masters coming up in the next four weeks.

And he is determined to prove wrong the critics who say he cannot win a major.

“I’ve always got that streak in me,” he said. “If you tell me I can’t do it, I’ve got to go and do it.”

First, though, Harrington is returning home for St Patick’s Day on Thursday and to take in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations finale between Ireland and Wales at the Millennium Stadium.

“I’ll travel to that in Wales but that’s my only plan for the week – but I’m sure somebody else will make up some plans for me.”