Padraig Harrington ended a 13-year Alpine absence in style shooting a 66 in yesterday’s Omega European Masters Pro-Am in Switzerland.
Harrington is contesting the Swiss event for a first time since 2000 and while delighted to have a bogey free five under par score he is competing back on the European Tour out of necessity given the now 42-year failed to qualify for the lucrative PGA Tour FedEx Cup Series.
In his last journey into The Alps Harrington missed the cut while he posted results of 30th (1998), 63rd (1997) and 18th on debut in 1996.
Padraig Harrington returns to Switzerland with a 66 in today’s Omega European Masters Pro-Sm. (Photo – EoiClarke/www.golffile.ie)
“It always seems a tough course to be able shoot scores like 16 and 18-under par as there is an awful lot of difficulty around the green, and also quite an amount of difficult in clubbing,” he said ahead of the Pro-Am.
“So in the times I played the tournament in the past it didn’t suit my game and in having now played the course twice this week, I still find it difficult.”
Though Harrington was in a more upbeat mode following the Pro-Am helping his team to a 19-under par score when the triple Major winning contributing five birdies and scrambling for par after going out-of-bounds on one hole and then finding a water hazard at another.
“You remember what Lee Trevino famously said and that there’s no point shooting a 66 on a Wednesday as you don’t get paid on a Wednesday,” he said smiling.
“And the great thing about the golf course here in Switzerland it is right in the centre of town and everyone here seems to live for their golf at this time of the year.
“I walking around the town last night going to a restaurant and there was three caddy cars parked outside one of the bars and it was like they hadn’t managed to make it home sort of scenario.
“It reminds me of home as a lot of links courses back in Ireland are built in and around the town and everybody in that town, even though they don’t play golf are still kind of interested.
“You just can’t go 10 yards here in Crans without seeing a poster for the event while every shop window has some sort of golf theme display, so it really it is a nice atmosphere.”
And while Harrington’s hotel room this week overlooks The Alps it is just across the street from a putt putt course and he’s already challenge his caddy, Ronan Flood to a match.
“That will be the big match of the week and it really looks tough and difficult as there is a volcano feature on one hole and I don’t know how I am going to play it.”
Harrington is among six Irish competing this week including Darren Clarke, who is contrast is competing in the event for a 15th time and with his best finish being third and the last time Harrington made the journey up into The Alps.
“It reminds me of home as a lot of links courses back in Ireland are built in and around the town and everybody in that town, even though they don’t play golf are still kind of interested.
“You just can’t go 10 yards here in Crans without seeing a poster for the event while every shop window has some sort of golf theme display, so it really it is a nice atmosphere.”
