Hard for Harrington to contain enthusiasm

GOLF:NO INJURY scare, no problem with his focus . . . should we be worried that all is right with the world for Pádraig Harrington? On this occasion, a far cry from the scares that blighted his preparation for what turned out to be a successful defence of the Claret Jug amid the sand hills of Birkdale last month, the 36-year-old Dubliner is gung-ho about his hopes and aspirations for the 90th US PGA championship in the Detroit suburbs.

Although this is the major where Harrington has traditionally struggled, with a finish of tied-17th the best he has managed in nine appearances, there is a new-found confidence - the type that comes from winning majors - about his persona as he heads into the final major of the year, starting tomorrow.

"I've nothing to report, apart from the fact that my body is falling apart," quipped Harrington yesterday, having completed nine holes of practice and intent on finishing the rest of the round in the afternoon when the heat was up.

Harrington had raised his eyebrows when informed that his best finish in a US PGA had been no better than 17th, at Hazeltine in 2002. Now, though, as a two-time British Open champion who has also had career top-five finishes in the other two majors - the US Masters (twice, in 2002 and this year) and the US Open (in 2000 and 2006) - there is a sense that the time has come to change that particular statistic.

Why the extra confidence?

"I'm just a better player, is that a good enough reason?" replied Harrington, with no trace of arrogance.

"As results (in the PGA) would suggest over the years, I haven't really been ready to play. I wasn't ready last year.

"I think I am just a better player, with more optimism. I know what I am doing. Whether I get it right or wrong is a different thing, but I do know what I am doing, which is very important.

"The results can be hit and miss, but the chances of me bringing my game (are better) and that is what gives me encouragement.

"I believe I understand my game. I've worked on my swing long and hard and it is now the guts of two-and-a-half years where I have been going into majors not necessarily working to get better for the future but playing those tournaments each individual week for the sake of those events, and I've got myself into contention over half of those times and that is the main thing.

"Whereas the PGA hasn't been my best, I don't see why it has to be different from any other major."

Harrington observed that the US PGA - where traditionally the courses have been set up with wide fairways - has changed in recent years to make it more demanding.

"You know, it is more akin to other majors than it is to the PGA," he observed, a change in the set-up that could suit the world's number three as it will turn it more into a grinder's course than a birdie-fest.

Harrington, who has taken out the three-iron that was in his bag at Birkdale and replaced it with a hybrid club for the challenge here at Oakland Hills, where he was a successful member of the 2004 Ryder Cup team, winning four of his five matches, said he had changed his mindset in terms of the need to prepare too rigorously in the week of a major.

"My preparation wasn't great for the Open, but I was comfortable because I'd played the previous week (in the Irish PGA). I have changed from a player who thinks he has to get everything right (the week of a major) to a player who knows that he doesn't. I used to believe that when I went to a major I had to play to my very best. I put myself under too much pressure.

"I've realised now that whatever game I turn up with is the best game I have that week and I don't get as stressed on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday."

Not only more confident, but wiser too, it would seem.