Harrington refuses to panic
Struggling Padraig Harrington insists that he will be ready to battle Tiger Woods for US Open glory in New York next week.
The triple major winner has made a nightmare year start to the year, tumbling out of the world’s top 10 after missing three of his last four cuts.
But he believes he can turn his game around when he tees it up with world No 2 Phil Mickelson at the St Jude Classic in Memphis this week.
Pointing to patience as the key, Harrington said: “The results have been quite lean certainly in the last five months and I've got to get back to working on my scoring.
“I haven't done anything out of the ordinary this year. But I do expect to be ready to go when I get to Bethpage. On Thursday week I have to be ready, and I do expect to be ready.
“Obviously I'd like to turn around as quick as possible. I'm doing the right things. I've got to stay patient. I've got to be accepting of this.
“Of the last four tournaments I have played in I have missed three cuts which sounds quite bad. But I am in no way worried about my form.
“I have done a lot of good work over the last few months and I am confident that it will make a big difference to my game in the long run."
Harrington hasn’t had a top ten finish since he was tied fifth in the Abu Dhabi Championship nearly five months ago.
But he is not pushing any panic buttons despite missing the cut by four shots in last week’s Memorial Tournament in Ohio.
Long hours working on his swing have blunted his normally razor-sharp short game but Harrington reckons things will turn around quickly as the three remaining majors approach.
He said: “Sometimes when you work on your weaknesses, your strengths do get weak a little. But I feel I'm right back on track.
“I can put that on the back boiler now can concentrate on my scoring, just getting myself ready for these tournaments, making sure my short game, which is my strength, is as sharp as ever.
“When I sat down and thought about the Memorial I actually wasn’t too disappointed. I felt that I did a lot of good things over the two rounds.
“I could see that my short game could have been better which would have saved me and that is why I spent the weekend working on it.”
Mickelson is sure of an emotional reception at TPC Southwind as his wife Amy continues her battle against breast cancer.
The left-hander played a practice round at Bethpage on Tuesday and promised to answer questions about her progress in Memphis last night.
Mickelson said: “She's hanging in there.”
Harrington was tied for fourth in Memphis last year and hopes a good week will put him in pole position to peak for the summer and the three remaining majors.
He said: “I really like the course so hopefully I can get back on track. I know that if I stick to what I was doing last week then it will turn around quickly."