Harrington focused and in a good place

US MASTERS COUNTDOWN:Three-time Major champion has arrived at Augusta feeling he doesn't need to make any adjustments to his putting stance, or to his swing

THE BEARD? Quite simply, it had to go. You couldn’t have Pádraig Harrington, a potential Masters champion, arriving into the Butler Cabin on Sunday night looking for all the world like an extra in some down-and-out film wondering if there was a spare jacket lying around. Nope, those who don the Green Jacket are clean-cut; those who get to wear golf’s emerald blazer look the part.

For Harrington, who’d finally gotten around to acquiring a razor blade to remove the near-fortnight old growth from his face, the quest for a fourth Major title – to add his two British Opens and one US PGA – continued yesterday when he reacquainted himself with the course by playing the front nine holes with Jerry Kelly.

The back nine today, the eve of the tournament, will complete his preparation. Then, it is down to him against the field.

Having recorded a season’s-best finish of tied-eighth in the Houston Open on Sunday last, the Dubliner’s work on Monday entailed hitting balls on the range and putts on the practice green. And a sit-down talk with psychologist Bob Rotella.

“I sat with Bob for two hours and had a nice chat. It was very good, I’ve got to say. A couple of good things came out of it, as they always do. A few very good things. Normally this week we’d be trying to get to grips with Bob Rotella sort of stuff but, now, we can get onto the next page and establish a few other things that’s happening in the game.”

What that means in lay-man’s terms is that Harrington has arrived in Augusta without the need to tinker with anything. He hasn’t changed any clubs since Houston. He doesn’t feel the need to make any adjustments to his putting stance, or to his swing.

He is here, and he is ready to go.

As he explained: “I’m very happy with where I am at, where my game is and where I’m going. All that stuff. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to play your best week or anything like that, but I am comfortable with me . . . the signs are good, there’s no doubt about that. We’re focused on a big week, things are in a good place now and going forward . . . I’m not searching for anything at the moment.”

Harrington, who missed the cut here last year, has managed to get into contention in the Masters on a number of occasions in the past; most notably in 2002 and again in 2008, when he finished tied-fifth on each occasion. For sure, he’s also had his problems around the place, none more so than in 2009 when, rather bizarrely, a gust of wind moved his ball up the slope (resulting in a penalty stroke) on the green, while he also ran up a quadruple bogey nine on the second hole that year to end his bid for the so-called ‘Paddy Slam’.

He will tell you that everyone has “baggage” to bring with them to the first tee at Augusta National, and even Phil and Tiger have had their moments. What matters most to Harrington is where he, himself, is. “I’ve a great trust in what I’m doing in and around the game. I would say I lacked a bit of trust on the golf course at times but, in and around what I’m doing, I am very happy with me, what I’m doing, and I’ve never had a better understanding. I feel good about where my game is at and there’s a good clarity in it.”

He added: “This is the week of the Masters. You want to bring your game this week. There is an element of me that I’m happy and wouldn’t have changed anything coming into this. But I think I could be a better player over the next couple of months too.

“It’s not that I’ve changed anything for this. There is an element of going forward and that but I am focused on this week. But in the overall picture, as regards my game, I’m in a good place for the next how many years.

“So I’ll be competing in many Majors in those years. I will get into contention in some of those Majors and I will win some of them. I don’t want to put it all on this week, though. It would be silly to heap all off the pressure on, thinking I’ve got to turn out this week and play like this and if it doesn’t happen this week, something’s wrong with the programme. In fact, the programme is pretty good.”

And, with that, he was off. A man getting ready to walk the walk.