Three of the historic five Irish competing in this week’s Players Championship will tee up on the TPC Stadium course with varying goals.
Padraig Harrington has returned to competition after a three-week competition break and teeing-up at the start of four events in succession including next week’s Wells Fargo Championship, the BMW PGA Championship and the following week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.
And while Harrington chases a second PGA Tour title this season his goal is straight-forward.
Padraig Harrington hitting off from the par three 17th during a Tuesday practice round.
“The goal these next four weeks, apart from another victory this year, is to finish top-six this week that would get me into the U.S. Open,” he said.
“I’m still in a good place after winning the Honda Classic recently and I’ve also had some good results here at Sawgrass finishing second both in ’03 and ’04 but then that was on different grasses to what they have now.
“So getting myself into the U.S. Open is the big goal now.”
Harrington’s had plenty of company with him inside the ropes in the lead-up to the $10m event including coach Peter Cowen and renowned sports psychologist Dr. Bob Rotella who have walked with the three-time Major winner at various stages around the Pete Dye designed Stadium cousre.
Shane Lowry signs autographs during his Tuesday practice round.
And Harrington recalled to Shane Lowry, who he played a dozen holes with on Tuesday, a bizarre incident on the opening day of the 2002 Players Championship when he hit three balls from the rough right of the 18th green.
“Hey Shane? See that spot around about there,” said Harrington pointing.
“That’s where I hit three balls the first time I ever played here at Sawgrass. It was the most bizarre incident as there was two golf balls lying beneath my own ball.
“But then I didn’t know it at the time and when I played my shot here’s these three golf balls flying in every direction.”
Harrington was adjudicated not to have incurred any breach of the rule but insists 13 years on the key this week will be fairways and greens.
Padriag Harrington and Shane Lowry during a final practice round on the TPC Sawgrass course. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
“The way they’ve set the course up this week the premium is purely on hitting fairways and greens,” he said.
And after yesterday bizarrely signing someone’s shoe, another spectator remarked to Harrington ‘I hope you win this week’.
Harrington responded: “I hope I do, too.”
Lowry is making his Players Championship debut and despite the embarrassment of being overlooked by the PGA Tour in being invited to a ‘First-timers’ media reception on Wednesday morning, the Carton House attached pro has set his mind on following in the footsteps of England’s Danny Willett and securing PGA Tour ‘Special Temporary Membership’.
Willett secured playing rights for the 2014/15 PGA Tour wraparound schedule on the back of securing third place in last week’s WGC – Cadillac Match-Play Championship in San Francisco.
Shane Lowry plays a flop shot during his final Players practice round. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
Lowry can do the same with a top-10 finish here on the Pete Dye designed course.
“If I could finish top-10 this week then that would go a long way to achieving what Danny did last week, so that’s the goal,” said Lowry.
“I felt I played really well last week and to have beaten someone like G Mac, and given his record in match-play, was very pleasing.”
Clarke is competing for a first time since the Masters and made his way to Florida via last Saturday night’s Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao showdown in Las Vegas.
“There’s been much said about the fight but it was an incredible atmosphere being there ringside,” said Clarke.
“But then it’s nice to be back to playing golf and after all the hype earlier this year with my Ryder Cup captaincy appointment I’m just looking forward to concentrating on my golf in coming weeks.
Miss Northern Ireland 2014 – Rebekah Shirley. (Photo – www.missnorthernireland.com)
“Though it’s still been pretty off the course as I had a corporate day at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas before the fight.
“And Allison (wife) has been involved with the final of the Miss Northern Ireland contest that’s taking place next Monday in Belfast.
“So while I haven’t been busy with Ryder Cup issues I have still be been busy with plenty of other things going on.”
FOOTNOTE –
This week marks the second occasion in the States this year to boast an historic five Irish competing after history was made at Augusta National when five Emerald Isle golfers teed-up at Augusta National.
