Harrington hopes for reversal of fortunes
Padraig Harrington has gone round Wentworth’s famous West Course in just 61 shots, including a seven-under-par back nine of 30.
He has also ended a week of golf there an equally staggering 42 under par.
And yet the Dubliner approaches this week’s BMW Championship at the Surrey course hoping for the best, but fearing the worst – again.
The reason being that this is May and not October.
Harrington’s happy memories of the venue have all been in the World Match Play Championship, where he played one of the great head-to-heads of all time against Ian Woosnam in the 2001 final.
In contrast, he has never managed a single top-10 finish in the PGA Championship, now under BMW’s sponsorship, and became so disenchanted with the place at this time of year after missing the halfway cut in 2002 that he twice gave the event a miss.
Now he is back and looking to make amends.
“I always said I would be,” stated the world number 10.
“I said three years ago that I would give myself a bit of a break and I have.
“I also feel that with playing more in the States this year, it’s my duty to come back and play in it.
“Other years I’ve played so many events that I felt I was giving enough of myself without going to an event that wasn’t particularly suited to me.
“This year I feel like I should make the effort.”
Asked if he was better prepared than in the past, Harrington laughed and answered: “No. We’ll wait and see. Hopefully I will be.”
That final with Woosnam four years ago ought to boost his confidence, even if match play does involve a different approach to stroke play.
Europe’s new Ryder Cup captain won two-and-one after a titanic duel.
He had a spell of seven successive birdies from the second hole to equal his own tournament record and his front-nine 28 set another best.
Harrington came home in 30 for that 61 and appeared to be heading for victory until he called a penalty shot on himself at the 27th after seeing the ball move a fraction of an inch as he addressed it.
The tide turned in Woosnam’s favour, who also took the 29th, 30th and 31st and went on to become the tournament’s oldest ever winner.
Harrington reached the semi-finals last year despite another incident on the 27th when he smashed his thumb against a tree, but now he just wants to get out of the week with no damage to his prospects for the US Open next month.
“It definitely has had that effect in past years – relative to other tournaments, my performances at Wentworth are disastrous,” he said.
“I want to have a lot of confidence in my game going there, but the course just doesn’t suit me.
“I’ve gone there every year and beaten myself up. That does nothing for my confidence, but I view it as a real challenge.”
Ernie Els last year questioned Harrington’s continued absence. He called it “a little surprising”.
“Padraig is such a quality player,” said Els. “With his type of game, he can play any type of golf course, you would think.
“I don’t want to be too critical about it, but he is the top European player in the world and this is the flagship event for the European Tour.
“He’s got his own views, says he doesn’t like it this time of the year and you’ve got to respect that.
“But I’m sure the European Tour is disappointed. This is one of the biggest tournaments and it’s got some history. Money-wise, it’s right up there with the US events.”
First prize this week is around £450,000 and the total purse over £2.7million.
