Pod ready to restore Order

Harrington seeks fast start to 2008 after losing Order of Merit crown

Last updated: 7th November 2007

harrington padraig

Harrington: Clutching the Claret Jug in Shanghai

Related links

News

Report

Also see

Sheshan stats package

Padraig Harrington insists he heads into this week's HSBC Champions tournament focused, motivated and ready to make a fast start to the 2008 Order of Merit race.

The Dubliner narrowly failed to retain the Harry Vardon trophy he won in 2006 after coming up just short at the Volvo Masters last weekend - the final event of the 2007 European Tour season.

Harrington finished joint-fourth, not quite good enough to maintain his status as Order of Merit champion, with the honour going instead to the eventual winner at Valderrama, Justin Rose.

You could forgive the 36-year-old for being emotionally and physically drained following that dramatic climax to the season, but instead he remains hungry - hungry to put things right after missing out.

2007 may have been the landmark year he broke his, and Europe's, major drought with his Open Championship victory, but Harrington was left hurt by missing out on a second successive Order of Merit title, despite his commendable effort at Valderrama.

He is now determined to get his 2008 campaign off to the best possible start at the star-studded event in Shanghai which sees the likes of Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Ernie Els and Angel Cabrera all teeing it up.

Happy with Valderrama performance

"I had a great week at Valderrama because I turned up at the event and performed on cue," he stated.

"I came up short at the very end, but I went into the event under the spotlight aiming to perform and get myself in position and, but for a couple of putts, I would have been there or thereabouts.

"I was really happy with my performance; I couldn't be more pleased.

"After coming very close on the Order of Merit last year, and this week being the first event of the 2008 Order of Merit, there's a keen sense to get off to a good start and get going in the race.

"I'm a little jet-lagged, but I am well motivated for this week. Losing out last week has got me very keen to start well this year.

"I feel better than I did towards the end of last summer; I wasn't 100% strong through September, but I feel ready to go now.

"I've played the course the last couple of years and I'm very familiar with it. There's a bit more rough this year, but I think one round in the Pro-Am is enough in the context that I know it from previous years."

Once this week is out the way, Harrington is expected to take a break from the hectic European Tour schedule until the Abu Dhabi Masters in mid-January.

He will use that time to recharge the batteries, reflect on a memorable year and reassess his objectives for the season ahead - something he found tricky following the euphoria of his triumph at Carnoustie.

"I have attempted to set new goals after the year I had by winning the Open Championship, but I think it will take the winter break before I fully focus on going forward," he added.

"I'm still playing in the current year and I need to, so it's when I stop and look back and prepare for next year that I will really set the goals."

Harrington will partner world number 11 KJ Choi of Korea and South Africa's Qatar Masters champion Retief Goosen in the two first rounds at Sheshan Golf Club.