Harrington succumbs to fatigue

Tiredness a key factor as Irishman returns lowest points score

Last updated: 22nd September 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Harrington succumbs to fatigue

Harrington: Tired

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Padraig Harrington admitted fatigue played a part in his defeat to Chad Campbell in the final Ryder Cup singles match.

The three-time major winner was sent out in the anchor game by captain Nick Faldo, who wanted his more experienced players out on the course should the match go to the wire.

In the event, the United States had already regained the Cup by the time Harrington lost 2&1 to Campbell.

Defeat completed a difficult weekend for Harrington, who returned only half a point from his four games and was the lowest scorer on the European team.

Struggling

"I know I'm fatigued and struggling at times in many ways," said the popular Irishman, who won the Open and the US PGA in the space of three weeks over the summer.

"I actually started off the week playing quite nicely but at practicing got worse every day."

Harrington's only half point came from the opening foursomes match on Friday alongside Robert Karlsson.

He then lost in the afternoon fourballs with playing partner Graeme McDowell and Saturday's foursomes when he was re-united with Karlsson.

Harrington was already two holes down to Campbell by the time Jim Furyk secured the match-winning point for the Americans and he admitted he found it tough to play on after that point.

"There's no question in my singles match today, the minute the overall match was over on the 14th any bit of spark that was in my game was just gone. The energy levels just dropped.

"I can't wait for the end of the season, personally, in terms of I'm definitely tired.

"I didn't play very well, but I worked really hard through all my matches and I gave it 100 per cent.

"But my game just wasn't there this week and it's probably because of a long, hard summer."