Padraig Harrington Takes Honda Classic Center Stage Thanks To Center-Shaft Putter.

……….. Exclusive by Fatiha Betscher, Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Padraig Harrington muscled his way to center stage after two rounds of the Honda Classic thanks to his center shaft putter, and as disclosed by www.golfbytourmiss.com last week at Riviera.

Harrington recorded 26 putts also for a second straight round in scores of 67 and 66 for a seven-under par tally in the rain-affected event at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

It’s a very welcome return to form for the triple Major winning Irishman who has not tasted success on the PGA Tour since capturing the 2008 PGA Championship at Hazeltine, and venue for next year’s Ryder Cup.

Harrington was a shot clear of American Patrick Reed (67), who will defend next week’s WGC – Cadillac Championship, while England’s Ian Poulter holed his second shot for an eagle ‘2’ on the par four, fourth hole on route to a blistering six-under par 64 to be sharing third place on five under par with American Brendan Steele (69).

Harrington crossed the American continent buoyed after ‘finding something’ in his game during the third round of last week’s Northern Trust Open in suburban L.A.

And in speaking with Harrington last week at Riviera he informed me that it was turning to a center-shaft putter.

Padraig Harrington holding his Wilson Staff Infinite 'Southside' putter and watching anxiously his putt on route to taking the second round lead in the Honda Classic.  (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

Padraig Harrington holding his Wilson Staff Infinite ‘Southside’ putter and watching anxiously his putt on route to taking the second round lead in the Honda Classic. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

As well, spending two hours over dinner on Tuesday night with his long-time sports psychologist Dr. Bob Rotella, he has superbly translated into leading a PGA Tour event for a first time since 2010 Valspar Championship.

It should also be remember Harrington broke through to win for a first occasion on the PGA Tour in capturing the 2005 Honda Classic and on the nearby Mirasol course.

“It’s nice to be in contention.  I’m very positive about my game coming in here this week,” he said smiling.  I don’t know what’s going to happen the next 36 holes but I have a good idea where I’m going.  I’m pretty confident.

“So I’m in a good place going through to the weekend, and feel like I have to play better than I played my first 27 holes.  Who knows, keep your head on and get up‑and‑down when you need to, be a tough weekend no matter what.”

Harrington has a Wilson Staff center-shaft Infinite ‘Southside’ putter in his bag and this shortest club in his bag that is helping deliver a huge boost in confidence for the 43-year old.

“I struggled with my putting a lot there for a few years but for the last six months, I found something that’s given me some peace on the greens,” he said.

“So I have been trying to bring that into my long game.

“As I mentioned, I turned the corner with my putting maybe last August, and in many ways, I’ve been trying to figure out how to use that to get into my long game.  Did seem to find it Saturday afternoon last week and I felt a lot better about things.

“I had it for a long time this week and I definitely lost it coming home there.  So the positive is that I know what I want to do and I know what I want to try and do.  The negative is sometimes I fail to do it.

“Overall I was really happy with my game.  Came back this morning and it was great again.  When I turned for home, I struggled a little bit, a few of the old shots came back in.  I wouldn’t say I’m ‑‑ through 27 holes I was the most confident guy in the world, and less so at the moment.  I know it’s going to be a long weekend and a tough weekend.

“But it doesn’t matter how well you play.  You’re going to have to get up‑and‑down there and work your way through it.  Very positive with the position I’m in.  I have a few options.  I can play well on the weekend or I can dig deep and hang in there.

“I have to say also as you get older, you lose your innocence and you have to remind yourself of a few things when you’re out there.  At times, how would I put it, I’m going to give you the cliché:  At times I get lost and get distracted from the process.  Ultimately, that’s really what’s changed.

“So I have managed to find a nice place where I was thinking of the process and it worked.  I hate to use that word as a cliché.  I would love to give you another answer, but realistically, that is what it is.  But clearly I struggled with that the last couple of holes.  Struggled badly with it, so it’s not like it’s an easy thing to do.  But for a while, I was finding it pretty good.”



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