Padraig Harrington (AFP)
White House-bound Padraig Harrington is tweaking his preparation for this yearâs major championships in an effort to regain the form that made the Irishman a player for the big occasion.
White House-bound Padraig Harrington is tweaking his preparation for this yearâs major championships in an effort to regain the form that made the Irishman a player for the big occasion.
Harrington won three major titles -- the 2007 and 2008 British Opens and 2008 PGA Championship -- in quick succession.
But last year was a bust, so Harrington has abandoned his policy of playing for two weeks immediately before the majors, which he believes will leave him fresher when it really matters -- on the final day of a Grand Slam tournament.
"The three tournaments (in a row) have been because my discipline has been poor and I need those two warm-up events," Harrington said Wednesday on the eve of the World Golf Championships CA Championship at Doralâs Blue Monster.
"Iâm getting better (at self discipline) and Iâm suggesting I need only one (tune-up)."
Therefore, Harrington will skip this monthâs Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, where world number one Tiger Woods could make his comeback, but will instead play in Houston the week before the Masters.
Before then, Harrington has the little matter of this weekâs exclusive 8.5 million-dollar event, where he is part of a 68-man field that is conspicuously lacking Woods, a three-time winner at Doral.
"I'm very happy with what I see and Iâm working on the right stuff at the moment to get myself competitive," Harrington said. "I've done a lot of work over the winter and it just takes a long time to get back into competitive play.
"As regards to my ball-striking, I've definitely improved from last year. I'm hitting the ball better and straighter but actually not as long.
"I've made quite a few changes and I'm assuming and hoping the length will come back, but in terms of accuracy I'm a lot better and I'm very happy in that sense.
"But to be honest, that end of the game affects my ability might be five percent. Ninety-five percent of it is my short game and mental game and thatâs what tends to go off. Iâve been concentrating in the winter on the five percent and now Iâm concentrating again on the bigger stuff."
Harrington will briefly interrupt his Masters preparation for a trip to the White House, where he has been invited by American President Barrack Obama to celebrate St Patrickâs Day next Wednesday.
"Itâs something different," Harrington said. "President Obama is one of the most charismatic people in the world, one of the most powerful. You want to meet these people and see what they are like and get your own judgment.
"You can tell a lot when you meet somebody, so Iâm looking forward to that. Plus, Iâve never been to the White House."
Defending champion Phil Mickelson was one player absent on tournament eve. He decided to spend as much time as possible with his family and is only scheduled to arrive late Wednesday night.
Woods and Japanese teen Ryo Ishikawa are the only two eligible players skipping the tournament.
Woods hasnât played in nearly four months since reports of marital infidelity first surfaced while 18-year-old Ishikawa is home attending his high school graduation.
Englishman Lee Westwood is fighting to regain form after straining a knee ligament two weeks ago.
"I was pulling a pair of boots on, something as innocuous as that," he said sheepishly. "I got in the wrong position I guess. It's a 7-to-10-day recovery for something like that, so I put the clubs away, did a bit of chipping and putting."
© 2010 AFP/sid
