Harrington struggles for motivation in Hamburg

Padraig Harrington has admitted he is struggling for motivation as he returns to European Tour action following the death of his father.

Harrington withdrew from the British Open championship at St Andrews last week after his father Paddy died following a long battle with cancer.

“I said the week before my dad passed away I would be happy enough to pack the clubs away and leave them for a year,” Harrington said ahead of this week’s Deutsche Bank event in Hamburg.

“I am not bad when I’m on the golf course but it is hard to get motivated to get on the golf course when I’m off it.

“I came here a bit earlier than I would probably need to for a course that I know but that is just trying to get into it somewhat. It doesn’t feel good at the moment but hopefully by Thursday it will be okay.”

Harrington finished second behind Trevor Immelman in Heidelberg last year and beat Thomas Bjorn in a play-off the last time the event was played at Gut Kaden.

“I don’t know what it is that suits me about the golf course,” added the Dubliner. “I ran it through my head as I was coming here on the plane and don’t necessarily think I have any great advantage here.

“It was a very important win at the time. They were lining up more headlines for another second place at that stage, I think it was going to be 22 second places so it was good to get a win.”