Pod - Irish win was so big

Harrington: Returning to Adare Manor as champion

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Padraig Harrington returns to Adare Manor to defend his Irish Open crown this week admitting that his victory 12 months ago was a major catalyst towards his Open Championship win.

The Dubliner edged out Bradley Dredge in a play-off in County Limerick last year to become the first Irishman to win the event for 25 years.

It was the first time Adare Manor had staged the tournament and the long, challenging course proved a real test with only three players managing to break par - Harrington, Dredge and England's Simon Wakefield.

Harrington only secured victory when Dredge ran up a double-bogey seven at the first extra hole, but feels the momentum created by his triumph was key in his first major success which arrived later in the season.

"As it turned out the Irish Open victory meant more than even I realised at the time," he explained. "I always found it very difficult to handle the pressure, the distractions and the general hype of an Irish Open.

"Years of that building up, the fact that no Irishman had won it in 25 years, the media hype going into the event and then to actually finally win the tournament was ever so big for me.

"It was a relief, but overall there was a sense of euphoria to go on and win it. Winning the play-off was a beautiful moment for me was it definitely was a big catalyst for going on to win The Open.

"I definitely felt more comfortable and I gained self-confidence from that win. There is no question the Irish Open is the fifth biggest tournament in the world to me."