First item on Irish agenda is a split in strategy

US Open: Two guys, two philosophies. As the sun struggled to find a way through grey clouds over this part of suburban Chicago yesterday, Padraig Harrington brought a ray of hope. Asked if he were "ready" to win a US Open, he replied: "Yeah, if I get the chance, I'm ready."

To do so, though, the Dubliner claimed he would have to be "the most boring golfer around this week" . . . which, conversely, is what the other Irish player in the field, Darren Clarke, most definitely doesn't intend to be.

In some contrast to Harrington, Clarke is anticipating a gung-ho approach in his play to this week's major. In 28 rounds in the US Open since his debut in 1994, Clarke - best finish, tied-10th at Pinehurst four years ago - has never broken par. Now, he has decided that the conservative approach is not for him. "The best club in my bag is my driver," insisted Clarke. "It has always been that way. If there is an opportunity for me to take my driver out, I will do that as much as I can." So, it appears, we have a case of different strokes for different folks.

Harrington, playing in his sixth US Open, with two top-10 finishes, knows the traditional demands of a US Open set-up means aggression can prove to be a costly ally. All of which explains his contention that boring, unimaginative play, tee-to-green, is required to be a champion.

"The courses we play in Europe definitely require more flair, and that's the last thing you want in a US Open," Harrington explained. "You want to be like a machine - just hit it down the fairway, hit it on the green, and that's not what European players are traditionally good at. And that's not what you want in a US Open . . . I am sure there are plenty of guys who have won a US Open that have not hit fairways and greens, but I'd suggest there are very few players going out there this week who won't be focused on hitting fairways and greens as a must.

"The US Open, more than any tournament, is one that requires discipline," added Harrington. "You have to set out your game plan at the start of the week, at the start of every round, and you just have to stick to it religiously. I say you have to be unimaginative, to play boring golf, but it is still an exceptionally hard test. You have to stay focused and disciplined and not make mental errors over four days. I think it is something that suits me. This event relies heavily on a good mental strategy, a really good mental game, and I do like that about the US Open."

Harrington has prepared differently for this US Open than in previous years. He played in the Memorial and the Capital Open - which didn't finish until Monday - and finished 13th in both tournaments. On Monday, he got to within a stroke of eventual winner Rory Sabbatini in the Capital but rolls his eyes to the heavens on recollecting a double-bogey on the 10th, where he "dunked" the ball into the water with a sandwedge as he went in pursuit of the South African.

"I think coming out here to play and prepare was the right thing to do. It's been positive . . . and, now, I am just going to try to take it easy these two days before play starts. The goal is to do a little bit of practice but not to go overboard. More than anything, I want to be mentally fresh," said Harrington, who planned to work - "maybe two one-hour sessions," he said - with his sports psychologist Bob Rotella before the championship starts tomorrow.

Clarke has also been picking the brain of Rotella over the past couple of days, and most of it has to do with his putting. On Monday evening, after arrival, Clarke dedicated over three hours to the putting green - sampling a variety of putters before settling on a new Scotty Cameron model - and then revealed that he plans to be more aggressive this week than he has been in past US Opens. Given that he is paired with Phil Mickelson for the first two rounds, that should be quite a sight.

This plan of Clarke's to use driver off the tee more often than not is borne of analysing his past US Open appearances. He has made the cut in his last six appearances in the championship, but that is not the height of his ambitions. "There's no point in playing for 30th place, that's just a waste of time. Either I am going to have a very good week, or a very short one," insisted Clarke.

While others are talking of using three-wood or one- or two-iron off many tees, Clarke is anticipating a more adventurous approach. "Driving is the strongest part of my game and I don't think there is any point in playing the course the way everyone else plays it. If I am going to hit it into rough, I would much prefer it to be 80 yards closer to the hole than if I took a three-wood.

Obviously, if there is only two yards of fairway, I'm not going to hit driver . .

. but if there are opportunities there at all, and it is not ridiculously stupid, I'm going to hit it. If I drive as well this week as I have been all year, I'll do okay."