Padraig Harrington singled out a recently released Penguin paperback as pivotal in toasting a first European soil victory in eight years but only after a heart-stopping final hole par in the 10th anniversary Portugal Masters at Vilamoura.
Harrington collected his 30th success worldwide in posting a final round 65 to deny defending champion, Andy Sullivan by a shot with a 23-under par tally on the Oceanico Victoria course.
While Sullivan missed out on becoming the first repeat winner, Harrington’s triumph was all the more special given it was the first tournament hosted on an Arnold Palmer designed course since Harrington’s fellow Open Championship winner passed away late last month.
Padraig Harrington has his hands full after capturing a 30th pro career title. (Photo – European Tour)
But it was not all plain sailing for Harrington who handed a huge following of Irish supporter’s heartache when he sprayed his second shot down the last into a green-side grandstand.
In fact, Harrington’s ball left a clear mark in cannoning off an advertising board fronting the stand before landing in rough from where he chipped to three-foot par past the flag and ultimately holed the winning putt.
It is Harrington’s first win on European soil since capturing the 2008 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale and a first ‘regular’ European Tour triumph since landing the 2007 Irish Open at Adare Manor.
“I feel really good as I was very relaxed all week, and I was in a nice place mentally,” he said.
Dave Alred’s book – The Pressure Principle.
“I’ve been winning elsewhere over the last number of years.
“I won last year in the States and I’ve won a few events in Asia so I’ve been winning enough to keep me going but it is nice to win in Europe and it’s always important to win in each decade.”
Indeed, Harrington won twice in the ‘90s, 24 times in the ‘00s and now four in the ‘10s.
Harrington also revealed he put his victory down to bedtime reading of ‘Pressure Principle’, a paperback released earlier this year by Dave Alred, who has worked with England premiership sides Manchester City, Sunderland and Watford along with the England Rugby team, the British Lions plus golfers such as Luke Donald and Harrington.
“I’ve been reading Pressure Principle and it gave me a few pointers that maybe I’d been missing out on and I stuck to those all week. It was a big plus for me,” he said.
Well done, Padraig and also to Dr. Dave!
