Harrington: Looking to get more major titles under his belt
My goal was always to win more than one major. If I ever crossed the threshold to win one, I wouldn't feel like that was the end of my road.
Padraig Harrington
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Considering how rare it is that a golfer wins his first two majors back to back - since 1950 only Seve Ballesteros can claim that and he sat out one in between - it was really no surprise when Padraig Harrington finished 16 shots behind Tiger Woods at last August's USPGA Championship.
Less than three weeks had elapsed from his Open triumph at Carnoustie before the Dubliner was asked to try again in the heat of Tulsa, Oklahoma. And while Harrington did manage to take a share of sixth place with his opening 69, two better than Woods, by Sunday evening he was down in 42nd spot.
Now, though, Ireland's first major champion since 1947 and Europe's first for eight years has had time to come back down to earth, adjust his life and gear up again for what will be his ninth appearance in the Masters.
Last April Harrington had the fewest putts of anybody at Augusta - by one from Justin Rose and Lee Westwood - but after taking a triple-bogey eight at the 15th in an opening 77 and seven thre in his Saturday 75, a third trip to the lake short of the green for a bogey six on the final day ended his hopes.
Three behind Zach Johnson at the time and in joint fourth place, having just eagled the 13th, he went on to finish four back in a tie for seventh.
Capable
Not that it dented his confidence.
"I walk away from this tournament knowing that I'm capable of winning the Masters," he said.
"I felt great all day.
"I hit my best shot at number 15. I hit a good drive and a great second shot, but it ended up in the water. Often that goes your way. I never contemplated it would be in the water - in fact, I was telling it to get down. I thought it might be long.
"Only when I heard the 'oohs' and 'aahs' did I know it was in the water. But I was really happy with how I played - even when things went against me.
"I'm comfortable in this position. This is just fantastic. You can't beat playing in these tournaments."
It was Harrington's second top-10 finish on the course. In 2002 he made a magical start and at six under par after 11 holes he led by three, only to slide back to fifth spot by the end of the week.
"Because of the history at Augusta I think it's the hardest to win without being in contention in it before. It seems to be a major that takes a bit of earning - there's a lot going on that you've seen happen in the past."
Now he has been in last-day contention. And he has twice beaten Tiger Woods in head-to-head competition. And now, moreover, he has a major title to his name.
Harrington's Masters career also includes a hole-in-one - at the 16th in 2004 - and two victories. Not in the main event, but in the Wednesday par-three competition.
Defence
He shared the prize in that with David Toms five years ago, then made a successful defence by beating Eduardo Romero in a play-off 12 months later.
As any regular Masters viewer will know, no par-three champion has gone on to become Masters champion four days later.
"Somebody has got to do it," he said.
"It's early in the week to be making a speech, but if you don't win this you can't make two speeches."
The principal goal for the man from the Emerald Isle, of course, is to be the player presented with a green jacket on Sunday and not some crystal in midweek.
"My goal was always to win more than one major," he commented at Carnoustie last July. "If I ever crossed the threshold to win one, I wouldn't feel like that was the end of my road.
"I'll try to win another, rather than feeling that this was the pinnacle. I'm going to celebrate like it's the pinnacle, but I've got other goals now to move on with."
A second major is the target then. But Harrington will certainly have to cope better with the 15th hole than he did a year ago.
