Padraig Harrington endured a frustrating day on the greens. Picture Fran Caffrey www.golffile.iePadraig Harrington insists he’s NOT the new Monty despite hitting more greens than ever in a frustrating Irish Open show.

The Dubliner, 40, was fourth for greens hit but a lowly 50th for putting as a finished six shots behind Welshman Jamie Donaldson in joint seventh.

Harri said: “I’d love morph into Colin Montgomerie. He was just an awesome ball striker and an awesome player.

“I have only hit this many greens once or twice in my life. I will never be close to Monty.”

The triple major winner prides himself on his attacking instincts and habit of chasing pins.

But after a frustrating day on the greens that saw him three-putt the first and miss a hatful of chances, he refused to concede that he’s getting more conservative with age.

Harri said: “I am 170th for greens in regulation in the US. I don’t hit it too many greens. I’d rather hit it at the flag and use my short game to get up and down.

“As I proved today, you don’t want to hit it to 20 feet all day.

“When you hit that 15-20 foot range it’s harder to hole the putts compared to when you are missing greens.

“I’ll take playing as well as I am playing at the moment and wait for a week for the putts to drop.”

While the putter was cold, Harrington believes he just needs to tighened up his short game to be ready to chase his fourth major in  he Open.

He said: “I’m hitting the ball as well as I’ve ever hit it but my short game is not as tight as it has been in the past becasue I am hitting lost more greens.

“Today was tough but Jamie Donaldson’s 18 under was a fair total. I would have had to shoot 64 to get to that.

“Maybe winning was one step too far.  It just didn’t happen for me.”

ENDS

Brian Keogh
Mobile: + 353 86 811 42 18
brian.keogh@mac.com