New coach, new swing or whatever Padraig Harrington returns to Europe under enormous pressure to get it sorted at this week’s Austrian Open.
It’s been more than three years since Harrington last won either on the European or PGA Tour and that was in capturing a third Major Championship at Oakland Hills.
His only victory since then was late last year in Johor on the Asian Tour.
No the crutches are not for Harrington but then if his world ranking drops any lower the triple Major Champion may need use of them. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
A third Major Championship success lifted the Dubliner to a sparkling career high of No. 3 in the world.
But the 40-year old tees-up on the Diamond Country Club course in Atzenbrugg with the glitter having faded and now ranked a lowly 81st in the world.
Not surprising Harrington is not even the highest ranked player competing in Austria with that tag belonging to pony-tailed Spaniard and World No. 40, Miguel Angel Jimenez.
The last time Harrington was ranked 81st was this week 14 years ago and with just the 1996 Spanish Open, and his first Tour success, under his belt.
As it stands, Harrington could very well end the year outside the top-100.
And if it were not for a five-year exemption in winning the 2008 PGA Championship, Harrington would not get a Christmas invitation to contest next year’s U.S. Masters.
Victory this week in his debut appearance in Austria would help lift his flagging ranking while he’s got the big chance to bounce back up the rankings at next week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship boasting the world’s top four ranked players in Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer.
As well, current No. 6 Dustin Johnson is competing in Scotland.
And Harrington will head to the Home of Golf with fond memories of having captured his first Major Championship at Carnoustie in 2007, and one of next week’s three host venues, along with being crowned Dunhill Links winner in 2002 and 2006.
“It’s always nice to come to a new place and I’m looking forward to this week,” he said.
“The course has had a lot of rain but they’re predicting better conditions, and hopefully we’ll see some sunshine.”
However Harrington’s biggest problem remains Padraig Harrington.
Victorious Ryder Cup captain, Colin Montgomerie revealed yet another bizarre insight into the Harrington make-up during last week’s Vivendi Seve Trophy.
Monty told the tale of how Harrington won much of the money from his European Team colleagues in practice rounds ahead of the Celtic Manor showdown against the Americans.
“Padraig was just driving the ball so well in practice that he was winning all the money so when the Ryder Cup got underway what does he do off the first tee, he virtually snap hooks it,” said Monty.
“I walked up to his caddy and wondered whether Harrington had a new driver in his bag because he was driving the ball magnificently just a day before.
“His caddy said, ‘Yeah, it’s a new driver’.
“Why’s he got a new driver in bag I asked? ‘Because Padraig wanted to see if he could hit this one as good as the one he’d been using in practice.
“I can’t repeat the words I said to his caddy.”
Joining Harrington in Austria will be Walker Cup winning hero, Paul Cutler who is making his pro debut, and like McIlroy in 2007, the Portstewart ace has been afforded seven invitations by the Tour in the goal of earning his full 2012 Tour card.
The 22 year old Cutler was singled out by Walker Cup Captain Nigel Edwards as GB & I’s star man after going undefeated in the 14-12 victory over the USA at Royal Aberdeen.
Cutler was enticed by former U.S. Open champion, Graeme McDowell into signing with Horizon Sports Management and has top caddy, Phil ‘Wobbly’ Morbey on the bag.
‘Wobbly’ caddied for Masters winning Ian Woosnam and José Maria Olazábal.
“I feel a bit new to this environment but I am looking forward to the challenge and also having ‘Wobbly’ on the bag is going to be huge for me,” said Cutler.
“He’s got so much experience it’s really exciting.
“It’s also great to get these opportunities to play straight away on Tour, and I couldn’t ask for a better start.”
Also making his pro debut is England’s Tom Lewis who’s managed to snare Belfast’s wily Dave McNeilly, and Harrington’s former long-time caddy, to work the yardages this week.
Harrington tees up at 12.30pm local time in the company of defending Austrian Open champion, Jose Manuel Lara and Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger.
Wiesberger, 25 was recently involved in the five-man Johnnie Walker Championship play-off at Gleneagles.
