Padraig Harrington tees up today in the Portugal Masters at Vilamoura but with Georgia clearly on his mind.
Harrington is making his sixth showing in the event since his debut in 2009 and the same year of his best finish of third.
And while the Dubliner is still looking for his first win on European soil since capturing the 2008 Open Championship there’s the goal also of getting himself back inside the top-50 by the end of next March and if so, into the 2017 Masters.
Harrington will tee-up on the Arnold Palmer designed course, and the first Palmer designed course to host a tournament since Palmer’s death last month, lying well down the rankings in 159th spot.
“I’m here this week to focus purely on improving my World Ranking and that means performing well and winning events,” he said.
Padraig Harrington in Portugal this week but it will be Augusta, GA that is on his mind.
“So this week and coming months is all about pushing as hard as I can to boost my ranking and get into the Masters next year.
“Winning, winning, winning is what it’s all about.”
Harrington is returning to competition after a week’s break from missing the cut in last fortnight’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
And Harrington will have just countryman for company over dinner this week and that’s Greystones Paul Dunne.
It was Harrington, who 12 months ago in Vilamoura who suggested to all those seated around the restaurant table: “Let’s play credit card roulette”.
So it will be Dunne looking to get one back on Harrington and their caddies this week.
However, all interest this week will be on Sweden’s Alex Noren who will be looking to become the first player since Rory McIlroy to capture four European Tour titles in a single season that McIlroy managed in 2014.
The Swede matched McIlroy’s 2015 accomplishment of three wins in a year and with Noren also seeking to win four events in just nine starts but also not get carried away with his success.
“It depends how you take the win and how you deal with a good week or how you handle a bad week,” said Noren.
“I’ve been trying not to put too much happiness and energy into my win last week because you have to play the next week so if you’re drained from the celebration that does not always help.
“But them my coach is here this week and we have been working on some stuff, and while I had a tremendous week last week with the putter and my chipping, we have been working on my driving.”
And it’s a ‘Last Chance Saloon’ for struggling Michael Hoey who is 187th on the Race to Dubai money list with earnings this season of Euro 53, 626 and needing to finish first or second to retain his card for 2017.
