Harrington needs to chill

By Brian Keogh

Eamonn Darcy has hailed Padraig Harrington’s Irish Open win as "massive" for every Irish professional.

Now the weird-swinging Wicklowman wants to see the Dubliner reel in his natural aggression and grab Ireland’s first major win for 60 years.

Darcy said: "Padraig winning the Irish Open was massive, huge. People don’t realise how big that was, especially for all the Irish players who have been trying to pull it off for years and years.

"He was immense and I think he can win a major now - I’d just like to see him be a little more consistent in the big ones and not get so pumped up."

Darcy’s major chance came at Royal Birkdale in the 1991 British Open, where he eventually finished tied for fifth behind Ian Baker-Finch.

But after watching Harrington triumph at Adare Manor, the Delgany man believes a major is just around the corner.

Darcy said: "He is good enough to pull one off. He is swinging that club so good - I love the way he swings it now.

"He doesn’t have major weaknesses either but I’d like to see him control his distances a little better. He gets too pumped up."

Harrington almost paid a massive price for getting too aggressive at Adare Manor where he was two clear of Bradley Dredge playing the 17th but bogeyed after overshooting the green.

A birdie by the Welshman meant a two-shot swing that led to a dramatic sudden-death shootout which Harrington survived.

But Darcy is concerned that the Dubliner’s natural tendency to go for broke could be his biggest weakness.

He said: "It was all over going to17 and Harrington just got pumped up and hit the shot that catches him out - that hook shot. He always goes for it and hooks it.

"It was just an unforced error on 17. It was all over but you just can’t be big on that hole. If he had lost, it would’t have done his brain any good."