Padraig Harrington continues his BMW PGA love/hate relationship later this week not only staring at another fight with the famed ‘Burma Road’ but dropping outside the top-100 in the world for a first time in over 13 years.
As well, Harrington flagging game continues to cause concern for Ryder Cup captain, Jose Maria Olazabal given the Dubliner’s lying well adrift away the leading 30 on the European Team qualifying table.
The top-30 will this week face Ryder Cup clothing outfitters to have measurements noted and with Harrington nowhere near the 30 it remains to be seen whether he will be invited to meet with Glenmuir reps.
Padraig Harrington looking to arrest his flagging game at the Tour's flagship event. (Photo - Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
Out on the course, Harrington’s long-running argument with Wentworth has always centred around the greens.
Wentworth had dug up and re-laid the greens on a number of occasions since the Irishman first played there in 1996 and with the most recent changes introduced by Ernie Els.
But the greens is why he purposely stayed away in 2003 and 2004, and then again for two years from 2008.
This year will mark Harrington’s 12th Surrey showing and while he’s missed the cut just once he’ll still be trying to come to grips with a golf tournament
“I’ve always liked Wentworth, other than the texture of the greens,” he said.
“I really like what Ernie Els has done tee to green, particularly in terms of widening the fairways while putting in big bunkers either side. He lengthened holes where necessary.
“Also I had been calling for the change of the greens and they have designed 18 tournament greens and they’re certainly tough.
“Initially, they hadn’t settled but as a championship golf course, it is now as tough as you could get. I’m assuming the greens will now be a lot more playable.
“It’s still very difficult. If there isn’t a sound root-structure whereby approach shots are hitting into any resistance, there is no backspin on the ball.
“But Ernie’s legacy is now a modern championship course even though it’s about a tough a challenge as you can get.”
“The triple Major winning Harrington returns this week not only looking to end a four-year Tour drought but also lying a poorly 95th in the world.
Harrington first broke into the top-100 on the rankings strangely in finishing in a share of 54th place in the 1999 French Open.
The now 40-year old Dubliner peaked a decade later in moving to No. 3 in the world.
His last victory anywhere was late in 2010 in capturing the Asian Tour’s Iskander Open in Johor.
But he’s now three months short of being four years without a victory on either the European or PGA Tour’s since being handed the gleaming Rodman Wanamaker Trophy in capturing the 2008 U.S. PGA Championship.
“I feel my game is in pretty good shape,” said Harrington.
“I recently had Pete Cowen over with me in Ireland and I’ve also Dave Aldred came over, and we did a lot of work.
“So the game is strong and I’m just not bringing it onto the golf course for the four days but I am getting close as we saw at the Masters.
“But I do believe I can win and it won’t be a win out of the blue.”
