As the annual New Orleans Jazz Fest moved into its second week, Padraig Harrington struggled finding the right key with a very flat performance in the Zurich Classic.

Harrington went into the event with a new putting set-up and while he stuck with it for four rounds, it hardly proved inspirational in ending with a one under par tally to finish well down the board.

The triple major winner fired a roller-coaster final round 74 in continuing very hot and humid conditions of the TPC Louisiana course.

“I’ve stuck with a new putting alignment all week and though I didn’t putt all that well I’ll take it on to Charlotte,” he said.

“I feel that when I get through the awkwardness of it, I’ll get better with it and be more comfortable.

Padraig Harrington could have done with some voodoo magic during this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

“As for the rest of the game, it’s been very average this week.

“It’s not the set-up of the course or anything like but simply I haven’t played well, at all.”

Harrington started his last day’s play with a par but then bogeyed the second and doubled the third hole when his tee shot found water guarding the green.

It was the third occasion this week Harrington has put a ball into the alligator inhabited hazards.

He then bogeyed the fourth, birdied the fifth, bogeyed the sixth and holed birdie putts at seven and eight.

Harrington has now contested nine PGA Tour events this year and collecting a pay cheque in four but missing the cut in five, and with his best finish being T27th in the AT & T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Harrington had only just managed to squeeze through to the New Orleans final round in holing a 50-foot putt for birdie on Saturday to make the third round cut on three under par.

His putt from the back of the ninth green was the longest Harrington said he had holed all season.

And after the round he highlighted one of the big faults in his game at present.

“It was a great way to finish and I’m delighted but the longest putt I holed before today this year was 31 feet and it’s why I’m ranked 750th in that particular stat,” he said.

Harrington was jetting out of New Orleans straight to Charlotte, North Carolina where he will join fellow Irish Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke in this week’s Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow.

“I played Quail Hollow a few times and it’s a tough track with 16, 17 and 18 being one of the toughest three finishing holes on the PGA Tour,” said Harrington.

“It’s always a great event there and there’s also a strong field they’ve assembled, so I’m looking forward to the week.”

Harrington’s best finishes in the event was T7th in 2010 and T9th a year later.

McIlroy will be returning from a fortnight’s break following his indifferent finish at the Masters however he will have fond memories driving down Gleneagles Road that leads to the club as it was the venue in 2010 of his maiden PGA Tour success.

Clarke is making his debut in the event and will have a new caddy for the week in England’s Mick Doran on the bag, and a former long-time caddy to Lee Westwood.