Message to Houston Mission Control – Padraig Harrington does NOT have problem!
The triple Major winner has been so content with his Shell Houston Open preparations this week that equipment advisers have found themselves with idle time on their hands.
Harrington has been travelling to the Texas event since 2006 when the PGA Tour moved the tournament to the Redstone Golf Club course and the week before the U.S. Masters.
- Padraig Harrington in good spirits on Redstone practice range
In past years, the area around Harrington on the practice range was like a mini version of preparing the Space Shuttle for outer space.
There was computers analysing all aspects of his game while there would be enough clubs about for Harrington to open a pro shop.
As well, his Wilson Staff advisers, including Ron Graham (pictured) would be seen running back and forward to the van to change this, tinker with that and so on.
So it’s been a welcome change this year. Gone is the fevourishness and activity so much a part of Harrington’s week in Houston.
“I really very happy with all aspects of my game,” he said.
“I’ve practiced well and what I would like now is to have a strong week here in Houston this week going into the Masters but then I don’t feel like I have to have one.
“There’s really nothing that I need to work on this week. No, nothing as my preparation heading to Augusta has been good.”
The unshaven Harrington arrived in Houston on Saturday after a six-and-a-half hour flight from Dublin via Nova Scotia to Houston and cruising in his newly-purchased private jet for the most part at 40,000 feet.
But in the five years Harrington has contested the Shell Houston Open he’s played all four rounds with a best of 24th four years ago.
Shell Houston Open promo beside 18th green at Redstone Golf Club
However for the past two years, his efforts have been spoilt by scores of 77 each on the last day.
And despite this Harrington, along with fellow Europeans Lee Westwood, Ross Fisher, Robert Karlsson, Francesco Molinari and Jose Maria Olazabal, know the Augusta worth of being in Houston this week.
“I have been coming to Houston for a few years now and where the golf course is always in tremendous conditions and it’s always good preparation for next week’s Masters,” said Harrington.
“However it’s impossible for any golf course to be like Augusta National so there is no point is making out they’re both the same.
“What they have done here in Houston is as good a job as they can and I will be playing the tournament this week with playing those type of shots you will play at Augusta in mind.
“On the practice range this week you will visualising Augusta type shots and then on the golf course you are playing with a certain mindset for shots that your going to have to play next week.
“You’re dribbling your putts and things like that, and just getting very used to putting for the front edge of the hole, even if it may mean leaving it a couple of putts short this week but it’s going to help you next week.”
Harrington commences the first two days of the $US 5.9m event in the company of Ernie Els and Gary Woodland, recent winner of the Transitions Championship.
