Harrington seeks new start

Padraig Harrington aims to kickstart his season with victory in the Ballantine’s Championship on Jeju Island after a frustrating beginning to the year.

The Open champion’s preparations for 2008 were hampered by a recurring neck injury and a bout of shingles, but he believes the enforced rest will have a long-term benefit and he is eager to emerge victorious at Pinx Golf Club in the European Tour’s inaugural event in South Korea.

The world number 10 lines up alongside home favourite KJ Choi, the world number five and highest-ranked player in the competition, Indian Masters champion SSP Chowrasia, Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn in a strong field, targeting valuable Ryder Cup points and a morale-boosting early-season win.

Harrington, who lifted the Claret Jug with victory in the 136th Open Championship at Carnoustie, told PA Sport: “It would certainly be a great event to win – fantastic to get a win under my belt early season and great to come out top in such a strong field.

“We will all be fighting hard for the Ryder Cup points and world ranking points on offer.”

The Irishman opened his season with a fifth-placed finish at the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai before the birth of his second son, Ciaran, in November.

He then played one tournament in seven weeks – December’s Target World Challenge – due to his physical ailments, before an 11th-placed finish in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, 14th place at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, third place at the Northern Trust Open and then a second-round elimination to eventual runner-up Stewart Cink at the Accenture World Match Play championship last month.

But despite his inconsistent play, Harrington, who this season is aiming to reclaim the European number one spot he won in 2006, insists he is feeling confident for this week’s tournament.

“I feel good, I am happy with the way my game is shaping up,” he added. “My neck problem is a recurring injury but I am learning to manage it so I don’t anticipate any major problems.

“The shingles are all cleared up too. It was very frustrating, I was probably a bit susceptible to catching something as I’d been training so hard and I was probably a bit tired.

“But I certainly have a tendency to over-practice, so maybe an enforced break was a good thing.”

The 37-year-old admits his form is a perennial problem, attributing his up-and-down performances to a lack of competitive action early in the year.

“It is always the same for me at the start of the season,” he added.

“I am always practising the technical aspects but it is being tournament tough and mentally prepared that I am referring to when I say I am rusty.

“I’ve had a good break, finishing the main part of last year’s schedule earlier than I expected with the birth of my second child, but I know I’ll be fine once I have a few tournaments under my belt.

“I certainly feel like my game is in good order.”

And Harrington hopes victory in South Korea in the co-sanctioned Asian Tour-European Tour event can provide the momentum for another memorable season.

“I am looking to play well and get a few wins under my belt so that the rankings and European Order of Merit position will take care of themselves,” added Harrington.

“I am also keen to secure my place in the European Ryder Cup team as early as possible in the season so it doesn’t add to the pressures later in the summer.”