Padraig Harrington In British Open And Major Golf Tournaments

Six top-10 placings at majors in the first eight years of his professional career included two ties for fifth at The Open in 1997 and 2002.  He missed a play-off that was ultimately won by Ernie Els in the second of those championships at Muirfield due to a bogey on the 72nd hole by one stroke. Golf and British Open 2023 fans can buy British Open Tickets from our website.

Harrington, though, found it difficult to pinpoint the causes of his impressive performance and instead struggled to leave that tournament with renewed confidence.

He stated of his performance at Muirfield, "The weird thing about it is I always assumed that was an aberration."

"I had no idea what I had done to play so brilliantly that week. I didn't feel like I had any form, really.

"It took me a good several years to realise that week, but it slipped into place without my knowledge."

"I'm certain I can win a major. I know it's within my control, that I have the potential to get my game to a point that can win a major without necessarily feeling like I had to be lucky or in anybody else's hands." DRAGON HARRINGTON

Four years later, in the 2006 U.S. Open, Harrington finished sixth in another major with a completely different outlook. Harrington was likewise left to lament a dismal end to his fourth round in a tournament most known for a dramatic finish in which Phil Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie each double-bogeyed the last hole to finish one stroke behind the eventual champion Geoff Ogilvy.

Harrington finished two strokes off the lead after bogeys on each of the final three holes, but he emerged from Winged Foot was certain that his consistent focus on his mental game had resulted in a substantial improvement.

After the final round, Harrington spoke with famous sports psychologist Bob Rotella, who was "all set to try and pull me up off the ground, practically," according to Harrington. I then turned to face him and said:  I know now that I can win a major, so don't worry about this. Without necessarily feeling like I had to be lucky or in anyone else's control, I know it is within my control to improve my game to the point where I can win a major.

“I was asked to explain, and I had been working on this with Bob. Every professional golfer understands the need of being loose and spontaneous in order to perform at your peak. "I struggle with that because I tend to do a lot of technical stuff," said the speaker, "since you want to be using the right (half of your) brain, your creative side, no technical at all.

I practise and think a lot, and it takes me a while to wind down, so that was the main factor. Up until 2006, I kept pushing myself all the way up to the competition and even during the tournament week, showing up on Thursday like it was the switch that would turn off the technical talk and allow me to get into my creative side and visualise the shot. Consider the shots and refrain from obstructing others.

Then in 2006, I realised that, no, the procedure was more involved than I had anticipated. It takes me weeks to train my brain to stop thinking and become quiet. It won't be finished in a day. And I believe that was the main factor. I came upon a small formula that indicated that this position is the cut-off point. The 151st British Open Championship fans can buy British Open 2023 Tickets from our website.

You complete "x" this week, "y" the following week, and then you show up at the major; you ought to be prepared by Thursday. Several players will be ready to perform well on Thursday morning in order to make the cut, as opposed to Colin Montgomerie, who I used to follow and who put in very little effort the week before the tournament but there was nobody fresher and stronger on a Sunday because he was preparing to play well on Sunday.

"So, you have to accept a certain risk when choosing a major. You have options since it's a long, important week with double the mental and physical strength requirements on Sunday if you're still in the running. Do you get ready to make the cut on Thursday or do you get ready to win on Sunday? In order to set my mind in the appropriate frame of mind for Sunday, I had to start two weeks before to the event, and that's when you need to be in the zone, I learned in 2006. It did take that long. It may have taken three weeks."

Such meticulous mental planning exemplified Harrington's methodical strategy for making the most of his career. Thirteen months later, his assessment that he was now capable of winning majors was confirmed true as he won The 136th Open at Carnoustie.

In this case, Harrington's difficult final round, which included a double-bogey on the 72nd hole, did not prove costly as he defeated Sergio Garcia in a four-hole playoff. The Champion's attention to detail paid off on the first extra hole, as he drew from his knowledge of playing links golf at the Irish PGA Championship the week before The Open.

Due to playing 72 holes of links golf the previous week, he stated, "I got a tremendous break on the first (play-off) hole. When we started playing golf, the sun was shining beautifully. However, as we walked up the fairway, a thundercloud rolled in, blocking out the light and causing the temperature to drop by at least five degrees. And if you look at the replay, Sergio under-clubbed by at least one club—possibly even two clubs—as he approached the green. 

"For me, 160 yards is an 8-iron shot. I knew from playing the week before that the temperature made a significant impact in how far the ball would travel in such conditions, so I hit a powerful 7-iron from where I was. There was a tiny bit of breeze there, but the temperature made the huge difference and that's why I think Sergio was probably 15-20 yards out with his second shot, whereas I compensated for that temperature based on my knowledge of playing links golf.

'I'll always be appreciative of that single thundercloud."

In order to win the Claret Jug, Harrington maintained his lead after taking the first play-off hole by two shots, but he wasn't done yet. The reigning champion won by four strokes at Royal Birkdale in 2008 following a spectacular eagle on the 71st hole, capping off a great title defence..

Three weeks later, Harrington won the US PGA Championship as well, giving him three major victories in a row. He was enjoying the results of his perseverance and commitment more than ten years after making his professional debut and more than twenty years after he first represented his country.

"I was definitely never a pretty golfer, as I've said for many years. I never had the appearance of being an attractive golfer. I didn't appear to have it all, " Harrington added.

"I gave it everything I had because the skills I possess are in the background: cerebral skills, short-game skills, and a will to win. Anything that would never be seen on a driving range.

"I wouldn't have won three majors if competitive golf was played on a driving range. But when you get out there and you put me under pressure, I'm prepared to put my neck on the line. The most important thing is that. 

"I never struck people as someone who had the potential to become the greatest golfer in history. I'm the one who had to figure it out and learn it, and I've relished having to do so."

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