Bespectacled Padraig Harrington will for a first time in 14 years see Augusta National but he says it will not affect his focus.
It will be the first major of Harrington’s career he will wear glasses.
But after three practice rounds on the Georgia golfing gem, the three-time Major winner can’t spot any difference using an ‘extra pair of eyes’.
“I didn’t notice any difference, and it was something really I wasn’t thinking about,” he said.
“I meant to actually have a bit of a look but I’m not aware of any the glasses.
“This is one of the few golf courses, it’s much more instinct. There’s so many lines into the holes it all depends on how you’re feeling at that time pace wise.”
Padraig Harrington now wearing spectacles for the first time at a Major but doesn’t need to refocus on Augusta National. (Photo – Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ie)
With a pair of British Open victories and success in the PGA Championship, Harrington heads also into the new season’s first major with a best finish of fifth both in 2002 and 2008.
In both years he did so breaking 70 just once.
And while he looks also to end an eight-year winless drought since lifting the Rodman Wanamaker Trophy at Oakland Hills in 2008, Harrington hasn’t ruled out becoming the first Irishman to be fitted with an Augusta green jacket.
“The majors are great for me, especially when you’ve won three,” he boasted.
“So knowing you have won a Major, I can stroll around and it’s not such a big deal.
“I’m very competitive but I’m definitely more relaxed at a Major tournament than any other tournament.
“In contrast, most of the guys here this week are all trying to win a first Major, and I’ve got three of them.
“It’s a nice feeling. I’d rather have three in the bag than none, that’s for sure.
“And I don’t need me to try any more as I’m very competitive.
“So that’s why it’s a little easier at the majors. I’ve got three already.
“And there’s not many players here this week with three or more. There’s Tiger (Woods), Phil (Mickelson), Ernie (Els), Vijay (Singh) and myself. Only five of us.
“So whatever way you look at it. It is a good place for me here.”
Harrington will contest the two opening rounds in the company of two of the younger generation of rising stars in Aussie Jason Day and American Rickie Fowler.
The Dubliner is coming off a 10th place in last week’s Valero Texas Open but his biggest concern is getting more familiar with his new driver.
Harrington cracked the face of his driver in the recent One Asia Tour Thailand Open.
“I still haven’t found a driver that I’m comfortable with and you really do need to drive the ball well here at Augusta,” he said.
“But then I hope to turn that around.
“I have a driver that I like hitting, but it spins a little bit too much. It means I can hit it pretty straight but you want to be straight and long at Augusta for sure.
“So hopefully I might get that tweaked a little bit and it will mean I am hitting something I am comfortable with and it is not such an unknown quantity.
“My wedge play has been poor and I’m working hard at that and you do need to hit your wedge s very well here, and there’s my putting.
“So there are a lot of things that are a little bit up in the air but I am not panicking about it.
“I know better than that at this stage and we will see what game turns up on tomorrow (Thu).
“Hopefully, it is the A game so that I will be ready to do battle if things fall into place and hopefully with nine holes to go I’ll be right in contention and I know how to win these things.”
