Pádraig Harrington is no stranger to coming into major championships not feeling 100%. Before the Open in 2008 a wrist injury almost forced him to withdraw. We know what happened then. But this week some poor driving in practice rounds has dampened his expectations.
This is the US Senior Open champion of two weeks ago by the way who is in the midst of a run of eight consecutive events. Yet he heads into round one at Royal Birkdale, this site of his second Claret Jug triumph, feeling uneasy.
“I can’t say I am on top form,” he lamented. “I haven’t been driving the ball great. I fixed it this week but I don’t think the fix will be ready, maybe it will, maybe it won’t. It has possibilities, I am trying to be optimistic but I just haven’t been driving it well and that needs to turn around to play this course well.
“A couple of weeks ago I would have said I’m in the best form but I haven’t been driving it well in to a left to right wind, I’ve worked on that and it needs to improve. I have been doing other things well, I have focused a lot on my putting and chipping because that needed to pick up. There is a possibility I’m just not buzzing about it.”
Here in 2008 a 53-year-old Greg Norman set the record as the oldest 54-hole leader of a major championship. This year Harrington is one year his senior in that regard and he admits that if things fall his way he can put himself into the mix on Sunday as he harbours hope of one more big win at the tail end of his career.
“The story was Greg Norman in 2008 and all the buzz was about him,” said Harrington. “I’m a great believer that players tend to win one at the end of their career. Jack won in 86, Tiger in 2019. I’m really hoping my wins weren’t in 2015 and 16 I hope there is one in me somewhere else. Could I do it? It is physically possible. Mentally I can but I get distracted by feeling like I need my A game and needing to be perfect which brings its own stresses.
“If I can get in position with nine holes to go I think other players would worry about me. I wouldn’t be afraid to win it. Getting those first 63 holes out of the way will be the tough bit.
“I’m in a nice place that I am not actually thinking about it. I’m not playing brilliant and I am not putting pressure on myself. If I play well great, if I don’t, I’m not in 100% form where I’m putting pressure on myself. The fix is in there but you don’t want to be fixing your swing in any tournament let alone a major championship.”
This is the second time Harrington has returned to an Open at Royal Birkdale since his victory here and he reflects on that performance here 18 years ago as the peak of his career.
“It’s pretty special to be here. I can’t remember a shot I hit in 2017 but I remember every shot in 2008! It’s quite possible I peaked there and then in 2008, the way I swung the club, hit the ball, the shots I hit. I look at those videos and pictures and think ‘wow that was pretty good.’ That was the moment, great memories and huge validation in that win. I won the year before after messing up the 72nd hole so to come back and win the way I did was very satisfying.”
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