Harrington

[Imurg]

Well he's won in Ireland again the week before the Open - just like the last 2 years. Won by 7 this time.
Has he timed it right? Is this the preparation route the others should take? While he's been "linksing" it up all the rest have been at Loch Lomond - will they regret it?

 

[Hodgie]

Yeah but did you see who the competion was for him. Not exactly a high standard.

 

[Molly]

I read in GM that he likes to go there to get Links Golf, but also as he has won the 2 years in a row before he won the Open - ideal preparation as a repeatable process! As he does well there, it fills him with confidence going in to the Open...probably needs it more this year than ever. He most likely does so well as the quality of the field is less than that at the main events, but winning is winning and can only be good.

Are others missing out at Loch Lomond? I don't think so. They are getting great competition in a strong field with a huge cheque for the winner. How much did Harrington win? Not about that for him, I know, but not sure many of the Loch Lomond lot would want to play for such a small amount? I am not sure many would be eligible either as I am sure it's an Irish PGA event.

I just hope Harrignton can do the business next week. ight have a bet on him. I know he's not played well this year, but timing is everything when you talk about peaking for the big ones.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I guess its a confidence thing for him though. He goes into next week having won the last event he played in (yes I accept its a weak field - no disrespect to the other guys but certainly not a tours standard field) and mind set seems to be a big thing for him so it may work for him.

Personally I'm not sure his swing changes are going to be set enough but I hope I'm wrong and I'll be cheering as loudly for him as I will for any GB & I player in with a shout on Sunday.

 

[rgs]

Its all about the quality of the course. The european course is a superb links and is set up by its owner Pat Ruddy similar to the Open links courses. Ruddy even visits the Open course during the year to get info on length of rough, speed of greens etc to aid harrington in his preparation.

Still cant see him competing at Turnberry as his game is not right. Hope to be proven wrong.

 

[mono217]

Come on paddy take the open

 

[CrapHacker]

Nah. Still can't see it. Post match interview still showed he has doubts about his swing.

And he's getting Torrance in to try to get an instafix to get him through the week.

Doesn't sound like he's in the ideal place, physically or mentally, to carry it off.

Having said that, his injury last year helped him win. He might well use his lack of form to his advantage to keep the pressure off him, again.

So I'll happily be proved wrong, but my gut feeling is, no.

 

[Society_Fan]

Granted it has worked the last 2 years, but this year is the 6th year he has won the Irish PGA, so it has not worked 3 times. At the end of the day the harrington that won last year seemed very confident (5 wood at the 17th could not have been hit without huge confidence), and that seems missing at the moment.
What has worked very well is the pressure is off in the build up again (just like the wrist injury last year).
He has the game, especially if the wind blows, so good luck to all the GB and I players.

 

[RGDave]

I'd love to see him do it again, but it's not going to happen i.m.o.
Having said that, he has a great (reliable) swing and a great general game. There are lots of people around him working on all the aspects of being a world-class sports player and IF he gets in the right mental state, anything could happen.

All those years ago when Tiger appeared, many of the tournaments he won were down to mental state and immense "mind over matter". As much as I admire Tiger, he's not got the most reliable swing and managed huge achievements with determination and confidence, not to mention the ability to hit some almost inhuman shots now and again....think the chip-in at the Masters.....that's not just talent and ability, that sort of thing transcends explanation.

Harrington, on the right track, is not going to roll over and give up...much will depend on the starting 2 rounds, if he's in the mix.....he could well grind out very steady golf.

As ever, any man with one "low" round and 2 steady eddies, should be right up there coming down the last 9.

 

[roccokj]

We all think Padraig is awful now, and so do I but looking at his scoring average this year compared to the last two years on the European Tour he seems to be doing pretty good:

2007: 70.96
2008: 70.90
2009: 70.86

I stil wouldn't put money on him for winning the Open though

 

[Dodger]

He was playing against nowt,sure he got 4k Euros for lifting this huge win,it's the equivalent of me winning my B chmnship....my cash would be on him missing the cut.

 

[KeefG]

I'm firmly with Dodger on this one.

Harrington's win was the equivalent of the new Galacticos at Real Madrid taking on the sunday league team from The Dog & Duck.

He's having a seriously poor season and Turnberry is not the course you should be playing when running low on form & confidence.

I too predict he will have his feet up on Saturday & Sunday.

 

[Mike_j_golf]

Hi,
I don't think its the people he was playing against u should be looking at it wass the score he got the course was apparently set up harder than turnberry so thats how u have to look at his preformance.
Mike

 

[Dodger]

Come on Mike irrelevent of what course it was the field was not as strong as a challenge tour event.
You can't seriously believe it was set up tougher than this weeks test will be....not just the course but the mental test.

 

[TRS30]

Golf is a challenge against the course and those who you are playing against. So while he might not have been playing against the highest caliber of opposition, the course was a very strong test.

Was it as hard as next week?, who knows but links golf is so differnt to parkland that I believe it was better preparation that playing in Scotland.

Time will tell.....

 

[Brendan]

Come on Mike irrelevent of what course it was the field was not as strong as a challenge tour event.
You can't seriously believe it was set up tougher than this weeks test will be....not just the course but the mental test.

You've Obviously not played this course, to put it mildly its a B*****d in the wind. Its Typical links if there is no wind you can get at it,but when do you get no wind on a links?

As regards him playing in this event, alot of great golfers have played and won it numerous times,Christy O'Connor snr etc, The problem is its a very poorly sponsered event and harrington's involvement is more to do with promoting it than picking up a handy 4 grand. Its unknown if it will go ahead next year which is a shame really.

As regards harrington in the Open,I can't see him doing it.He is playing very poorly at the moment, He was joint leader in the Irish pga only for the other Guy to with draw through injury.

I hope he does well though this weekend, at least be around for the weekend and to get to walk up the 18th on sunday.