Hot putter can see Pádraig Harrington repeat Honda heroics

Pádraig Harrington’s surprise win in the 2015 Honda Classic was one of the highlights of the Irish golfing year.

The three-time Major winner held his nerve in a play-off to pip the 21-year-old American Daniel Berger and seal an improbable victory which few foresaw.

Harrington returns to Florida to defend his title this week, and while it seems unlikely he will be able to match last year’s heroics the Dubliner feels an improvement on the greens may see him challenge again.

He said: “I’m very comfortable with my game. The long game doesn’t really change much, I’ve got to say, over the years, but my putting has been struggling a bit and that has come back well. So I’m pleased about that.

“I know it’s a cliché in the game, but when you start holing putts and you’re holing out better, it does lead to a lot less stress during the round, and a lot easier, a lot more confidence in your game, in your long game, when you’re holing out putts for pars and birdies.”

Harrington has flickered sporadically on the PGA Tour this season but has been left to rue his inconsistency, most recently falling out of contention in the Northern Trust Open following a final round 75 at Riviera.

But he feels there is definite room for optimism, he said: “Yeah, I see an improvement in my putting, which really bleeds through my game. Clearly wasn’t there on Sunday. Probably the last two Sundays I’ve played. But what I’ve been doing in my game, I see some nice things about it, and you know, I need to carry it through 72 holes, but I’m happy that it’s going in the right direction.”

Harrington's maiden Major title was one after he emerged victorious from a play-off with Sergio Garcia in the 2007 Open, and he believes he produces his best golf in a pressure-cooker situation.

He said: “I tend to have a little bit of an issue with having a lead in terms of, I relax a little bit at times and get a bit defensive. I think I’ve always played my best golf when it’s on the line, I’m under pressure, and I get the feeling, well, there’s nothing to lose at this stage.”

The 44-year-old will be playing with compatriot Rory McIlroy, who also unravelled on the final day at Riviera, and 2015 Open winner at Zach Johnson, and feels back-to-back wins in the competition wouldn’t neccessarily be out of the blue.

Harrington said: “I don’t think it would [be out of the blue] in the sense that I’ve shown better form so far this year, and plus, people are more expecting me to be doing something out of the blue.

“ If so I won out of blue, people are happy enough. I would think that they can see that if I get myself in contention with nine holes to play, I think my fellow players would see me as a threat, as in I’m good in that situation.”

Alongside McIlroy and Harrington both Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry are also in action at Palm Beach Gardens. McDowell is playing with Ben Crane and Matt Jones and Lowry with Brian Harman and Russell Henley.