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Pod 'shocked' by success

Last updated: 1st October 2008

Harrington: Back in action following Ryder Cup defeat

I would be better off with a break but I would never not be here. I'd crawl over to this tournament.

Padraig Harrington on Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
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Padraig Harrington has conceded he is finding it hard to come to terms with the enormity of his success in recent times.

Having opened his major account at Carnoustie last July, the Dubliner went one better this year as he not only retained his Open Championship crown but also added the USPGA title at Oakland Hills for good measure.

With three majors now on his CV Harrington may still be some way behind the likes of Jack Nicklaus (18) or Tiger Woods (14), but he has already eclipsed the achievements of some of Europe's greatest ever players including Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam, Sandy Lyle and Jose Maria Olazabal.

The 37-year-old admits he is still finding it hard to adjust to the fact he is now more successful than many of the people he previously only considered as idols.

"When I look at the guys who I put up on a pedestal as I was growing up, now I have more majors than them and it startles me a bit and shocks me a bit," he stated.

"I wouldn't necessarily feel that comfortable as maybe I should in that sort of situation.

"I've won more majors than those guys and they were my heroes. That's a hard one. That's probably the toughest one to get to grips with.

"If I was to catch Seve (Ballesteros) at five or Nick (Faldo) at six, it would be something that I'd have to get my head around and that's going to be one of the tasks; to believe it and to go ahead and do it."

Paddy Slam

Having won the final two majors of the season there is now even talk of a 'Paddy Slam' with some suggesting Harrington is capable of adding the Masters and US Open to his collection.

Even Ballesteros and Faldo failed to win more than two different major titles - the Spaniard claiming three Opens and two US Masters, Faldo three of each - and Harrington acknowledges he would love to add one of the remaining two to his collection.

"A Grand Slam is a different kettle of fish," he continued.

"I've won two of the four. Yes, if I was going to win another major, I would like it to be one of the other two, but I'm not going to be picky.

"I'll settle for just winning The Open every year. That would do okay!"

Order of Merit in sight

Another prize that is in the Dubliner's sights is a second Order of Merit title and he heads to this week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on course to do so.

Harrington has not played competitively since his disappointing showing in Europe's Ryder Cup defeat in which he blamed fatigue.

However, he insists he was never in danger of missing this week's event - a tournament he has already won twice previously.

"I would be better off with a break but I would never not be here. I'd crawl over to this tournament," he added.

"Last year during the winter, I got sick twice and I lost the winter because I had overdone things. This year I have managed it better.

"I am a little bit run down so the key for me is obviously not to overdo things this week. It's going to be a long week and a tough week in these conditions. The key is just to enjoy it as much as I can, not overdo things and just let the golf happen."

"Except for three days last week, I haven't practiced since just before the Open, a good couple of months when I haven't put in any concerted work on my game, my short game, or anything like that.

"I miss that. I like doing my practice. I haven't been physically up for it. My gym work is slipping a little bit because I've been tired as well. But I can see I'll be quite ready for the Volvo Masters."

Links lay-outs

His only other appearance before the end of the season comes at the Volvo Masters at Valderrama and he admits he will be going all out to try and wrap up the European number one spot over his preferred links lay-outs.

"This is a week that I really do enjoy. The golf courses (St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie) are set up very well for me," he continued.

"These really suit me while Valderrama doesn't necessarily suit me. So if I want to win the Order of Merit, it's got to be this week to perform."