Harrington not giving in to Ryder pressure

Padraig Harrington doesn't betray any evidence of a man under pressure. A psychologist would probably explain the wearing of a canary yellow shirt as evidence of a confident, sunny disposition and the trademark Colgate smile adds credence to the view that the Dubliner, who celebrates his 26th birthday in two weeks' time, doesn't have any Ryder Cup hang-ups.

"The Ryder Cup? I'm trying like hell to make the team, but I honestly haven't given any thought to the consequences of not making it," insisted Harrington, demonstrating the strong mental demeanour which has characterised his short career as a professional.

Two years ago, fresh out of amateur ranks and with three Walker Cup campaigns behind him, Harrington, with his accountancy qualifications also safely tucked away, started out life as a professional golfer with a sponsor's invitation to the Smurfit European Open. He has come a long way. Now, he's back at The K-Club as a tournament winner (Spanish Open champion, 1996) and one of the men battling it out for a place on Seve Ballesteros's team for Valderrama next month.

Currently, Harrington stands in 11th position in Europe's Ryder Cup table, effectively holding down the last automatic spot. The injury problems afflicting ninth placed Miguel Martin (who misses the final two events - the European Open, starting tomorrow, and next week's BMW International) means the Spaniard is almost certainly ruled out of the equation.

Paul McGinley, for one, has the utmost confidence in Harrington. "I think he'll make the team," said McGinley. "He's the man for the occasion, the sort who responds to such pressure.

"I don't go along with those who say there is too much pressure on Irish players playing a tournament in Ireland. Rather, it is just a coincidence that we have gone so long without winning on home soil. Just look at all the positives: we're good players, we get good times, we have a huge support, and we know the courses," added McGinley, as if to back up his belief in his fellow Dubliner.

Harrington, who missed the cut in the US PGA at Winged Foot last week, but still didn't lose any substantial ground in the Ryder Cup race, is attempting to maintain as low a profile as he can manage in the run-up to the European Open, an event which carries £850,000 in prizemoney and a lot of points for Valderrama.

Indeed, some technical work with Wattie Sullivan, in the absence of his normal coach Howard Bennett, has provided a welcome diversion. "I knew I was struggling with my game before the US PGA. I was pretty close to a reverse pivot, getting too much on top of the ball with my back swing. The result was that I was ahead of the ball at impact.

"I've worked with Wattie in the past. In fact, prior to this tournament last year, I also had him look at my swing. He knows my game so well. I feel I've managed to start pivoting again, although I won't really know until I play in competition," he said.

"To be honest, working on this technical aspect of my swing has helped to keep my mind away from other things. I'd like to think that once I go out on the golf course I will be able to play my own game, that, when the gun goes off, I won't be thinking about the Ryder Cup," added Harrington.

Yet, like it or not, the Ryder Cup is the topic at the centre of most conversations. And Harrington's role is very much under the microscope. "Of course, it is definitely a gold mine to play in the Ryder Cup. The sooner the better, too. But I wouldn't be disappointed if I didn't make it this time, especially if someone behind me in the table goes and wins one of the two remaining tournaments.

"Wouldn't it be far worse if I missed the two cuts and then lost out by a couple of hundred pounds?" he asks. As a man lying in 29th position in the Ryder Cup table, McGinley's hopes of making the team are relatively remote. "My biggest problem is that I have made loads of cuts but my biggest cheque has only been for about twenty grand. The odds are that I'm not going to make it. I've been working hard on just about every aspect of my game, but it hasn't happened for me yet.

"There is just no spark, and I'm waiting for it. It has been a dull year for me, to be honest. Last season, I was shooting 63s and 64s - but, this year, I've had one 65 and the next best have been 68s and 69s," explained McGinley.

Yet, a week at home in Sunningdale - "I played in 13 of the previous 14 weeks, so I just spent last week catching up on some rest" - has invigorated him for this week's tournament on home soil on a course which he claims "has come on immensely" in the past year.

Indeed, Harrington and McGinley, who both warmed up for the tournament in a relaxed manner by playing at the blind charity event at the Spawell Par 3 course in Templeogue on Monday evening, wouldn't mind a repeat of what happened Harrington there when he sank a 60-footer on the final green.

"I took off my blindfold after hitting the putt and just thought, `I wouldn't mind saving that for The K-Club'," recalled Harrington. Maybe it will be a week to remember, after all.