Padraig Harrington had been greeted by ‘Welcome Back to the Masters’ signs when his Augusta bound flight touched down late last Sunday night.
The four women were working for the Mercedes Benz courtesy car team and were there to greet players coming off the special once-a-year flight direct from Houston, and the Shell Houston Open, to Augusta for this week’s Masters.
And the reception Harrington received late on Sunday has carried through right up until Harrington walked off late Wednesday in the Par Three Contest.
Virtually everywhere Harrington’s walked this week he been greeted with ‘Glad to see you back, Padraig’ and ‘Well done, Padraig good to see you again’ messages.
L year ago there was the contrast of bitter disappointed in failing to qualify for a first time since making his Masters debut in 2000.
Twelve months on and Harrington’s back with force having recently ended a seven-year PGA Tour winless drought with his nail-biting second Honda Classic victory.
Padraig Harrington with Masters rookie Shane Lowry in a final practice round ahead of the 2015 Masters. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
This week mark’s Harrington’s 15th Masters showing since his debut in 2000.
In that time Harrington’s played 46 rounds at Augusta National with 15 of those under par including a best round of 68 in round three in 2004 and on day two in 2007.
He’s had seven rounds shooting par 72 but two dozen over par with his poorest score being a 78 on the opening day of his last Masters in 2013.
Harrington’s best finish has been a pair of fifth place in 2002 and 2008.
“The good thing about coming back here this year it’s been easier for me to prepare as I know the golf course,” he said.
“At another other Major, you have to play a number of Major events at a course to really get to know it.
“So I’ve prepared right playing just a total of 18 holes but then bear in mind I won the 2008 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale with no practice rounds.”
Winning a second Honda Classic restored much-needed gloss to the three time Major champion.
Harrington was again a winner on golf’s biggest Tour and given him added spring in his step in his 44th year.
“I always knew I could play well coming down the stretch as I showed at the Honda,” he said.
“Getting there at times is an issue but all I’m doing this week is preparing as well as I can so I’m fresh Thursday morning and fresh Sunday afternoon.
Padraig Harrington back among the Augusta azaleas.
“If I can play well on top of that I can give myself a chance and that’s the whole goal.
“The thing about Augusta National is that is throws up new things every hole you play depending on where they put the tee boxes. If we’re off the front on one hole you can carry a bunker but then if they move the tee back on another then sometimes you’re not reaching the bunker.
“So having played it so many times, you know you have to deal with the situation when it comes up.”
Harrington is part of Irish golfing history this week with five Emerald Isle golfers proudly teeing up in the 79th Masters.
And while the likes of Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry have long looked up to Harrington like a guiding light, Harrington points to Kiwi Michael Campbell as his biggest influence.
“While other guys will thank me I’ve go to thank Michael Campbell,” said Harrington.
“I’m sure I helped Martin Kaymer get through it. I know you’re talking from an Irish context but I definitely made it all the more real for the guys I’d played with on the European Tour.
“I was doing it for myself but there’s no doubt you need to have people there that you associate with, your peers, when they it makes it all the more realistic.
“I’d have said I had more influence on Darren (Clarke) or Graeme (McDowell) but then Rory (McIlroy) was always going to do what he was going to do.
“Rory was always going to be looking at others rather than us stuff rather than us.”
PADRAIG HARRINGTON – MASTERS FILE
