World No. 1 Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson and Graeme McDowell genuinely expressed surprise in learning triple Major winning Padraig Harrington is now six years without victory on either the European or PGA Tours.
Harrington will partner Mickelson later this week over the opening two rounds of the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky.
The season-ending Major was also Harrington’s last victory toast in capturing a third Major in 2008 at Oakland Hills.
However moments after landing a first WGC title and 14thpro career win last Sunday in Ohio, McIlroy was asked if it came as a surprise Harrington remains winless.
“Yes, of course I am surprised as Padriag’s a quality player but then I am sure he’s had chances, hasn’t he? He must have had some chances, surely,” said McIlroy.
Padraig Harrington is six years without a win since capturing 2008 PGA Championship.
“There is no questioning his determination but then Padraig has obviously had a tough couple of years but then no one works harder at the game and he still puts 100% into everything, and hopefully the hard work pays off.
“I was going to say he’s got a good group next week but I’m not sure if the third person in that group is going to play (Tiger Woods).
“But then maybe a grouping like that, if of course Tiger plays, will inspire Padraig to go out and shoot a couple of good scores and get himself into the mix for the weekend.”
Mickelson and his caddy Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay’ will be again looking to enjoy bragging rights over Harrington and caddy Ronan Flood as it was less than a month ago the American duo combined to defeat the all-Ireland pair 2 & 1 over nine holes of the stunning two-year old Trump International Golf Links course near Aberdeen.
And Mickelson’s not about to let Harrington to forget the defeat.
“I just love Padraig and Ronan and it’s just that will be playing together this week and I can rub that it in, the fact that Bones and I beat them in the big match at Trump Scotland,” said Michelson smiling.
“And it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter we only played nine holes as we were 4up through five as we had them closed-out and they were reeling, and you could tell it really affected them. I know if affected Ronan, especially.
“So I will be rubbing that fact in as much as I can on the tee come Thursday, absolutely.
“But as for Padraig’s game I don’t know what to say as I know Padraig hasn’t played the way he expected but the way I envision Padraig Harrington when I think of him is the way he played when he won back-to-back British Open’s and won the PGA.
“He’s one of the best putters, one of the most solid short putters in the game, a solid ball-striker and very good at course management, so much so he does not make many mistakes.
“Now I know the last couple of years he hasn’t played like he played at that level but I am always expecting it to come back, and I am expecting that every time I am playing alongside him, and I hope it comes back soon as he is a real credit to the game and I love being around him.”
And as Mickelson found in shooting final Bridgestone 62, the five-time Major winner believes it’s just a matter of ‘something’ clicking in Harrington’s game and he will be back in the winner’s enclosure.
“I think it is and when you play well golf becomes a reactionary sport as you don’t think much, and you just look at the pin and you see the shot you want to him, you feel the shot you want to hit and you execute it,” said Mickelson.
“When it all starts to click that’s how it kind of goes and once Padraig gets there he will be back right on track.”
And Graeme McDowell, who made his Ryder Cup debut at Valhalla in 2008 and the last occasion also Harrington represented Europe was just as surprised given the Northern Irishman in many ways credited Harrington in helping him capture the 2010 US Open.
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