As the 2011 Race to Dubai now nears the victory tape, Padraig Harrington is already in the starting blocks for the start of the 2012 season.
A superb up-and-down bunker shot for par at the last in Sunday’s concluding UBS Hong Kong Open ended what Harrington described as a ‘year not to remember’.
Harrington’s ball did a virtual ‘360’ before dropping in a round of 73 for a four over par tally.
Padraig Harrington on the practice range in Abu Dhabi earlier this year and where his poorest-ever year commenced. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
He delighted a handful of Dubliners who had arrived from Ireland early on the morning of the final day with autographs and snap shots, and also was pleased to again catch-up with former 1993 South of Ireland colleague, Shane Harmon who was working at the Hong Kong Open as a Player Liaison Officer.
But those few moments in the Hong Kong afternoon sunshine couldn’t hide the disappointment of Harrington’s ‘annus horribiis’ year.
Harrington’s season began with his disqualification from the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and in an event that prompted the R & A and USGA to enact ‘Harrington’s Rule’.
He then contested a further 17 Race to Dubai counting events along with 11 regular PGA Tour events with a best of a recent third in his defence of the Iskandar Johor Open.
“It just hasn’t been my year this year as I started in Abu Dhabi and it really didn’t go for me after that,” he said.
“So overall it’s certainly been a year not to remember.
“But having an extra week off is not going to hurt me in terms of everything. My game is in pretty good shape and there’s not much to work on.
“What I need now more than anything is rest.”
Harrington left Hong Kong also ending his 16th and poorest season ever on Tour officially ranked 67th on the Race to Dubai.
His previous worst European Tour season was 2005 when he finished 32nd but that was also a year Harrington captured his first and second victories on the PGA Tour.
Harrington will now have a good seven weeks break before venturing back out to the UAE for the January 26th starting Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
When he does tee up in Abu Dhabi the concerns will be the same and that is to correct his sliding World Ranking and look for a first main Tour success since August, 2008.
However Harrington’s never been one to dwell on negatives and was his quintessential upbeat self in admitting he also is not about to alter his schedule or anything heading into a new season.
“No, I won’t do anything different next year and I wouldn’t be changing anything as it will be a pretty similar schedule to this year,” he said,
“I did add Hong Kong for a reason but then I like coming to Hong Kong.
“But in saying that a lot of good things have happened to me throughout the year but it’s just that the results were poor.
“There was no just golfing highlight for me in the year, definitely not. But then my injuries have cleared up and I am happy with my swing.
“So in many ways it was a very positive year off the golf course but it just didn’t translate into results as my results were bad.
“So I am in a good position now both physically and mentally, and also technically so those three are in good stead.
“And you know what? I don’t have anything to do over my time off. I will go and hit balls but once for me I will get some quality rest and begin resetting. That will be more important than anything else.
“I won’t be looking for anything. I’ve got some quality time ahead with Caroline and the children.
“I needed a break and the longer break the better for me.”
But don’t expect any dust to settle on Harrington’s Wilson Staff tools of trade as the moment he arrived home from Hong Kong, he was well into 2012 competition mode.
“The next six to seven weeks before Abu Dhabi will be all about gearing-up for 2012 and getting myself ready,” he said.
“Everything will be calculated so that I get the right amount of rest, the right amount of training and the right amount of practice.”
And while Harrington missed out of this week’s Dubai World Championship he will keep one eye on what transpires in the $US 7.5m event.
“I’m always interested in what’s going on in other tournaments, so I will be watching what happens,” he said.
“But hopefully, there will be many more Dubai World Championships for me.”
