Harrington ready to win again: “No more excuses”
Padraig Harrington
Pádraig Harrington might have been selected for inclusion in the World Golf Hall of Fame next year but he's still looking to piece all elements of his game together as he eyes a potential Masters return.
While the Dubliner (51) is planning a three-week break in April, he will follow back-to-back PGA Tour Champions appearances in California by chasing the Masters start awarded to the winner of the main tour's Texas Valero Open.
"I've played a few regular events so far this year and to be honest, I'm really getting things sorted and ready to go," Harrington said ahead of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club. "At this stage, I am ready to go; no more excuses, so I should be fit and strong."
Though he's now a senior golfer, Harrington still wants to beat the "juniors" and he will play three of the regular Majors this year after last year's US Senior Open win earned him a US Open spot to go with his past champion's exemptions for the PGA Championship and The Open.
There's no question he'd love a 17th Masters start alongside Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Seamus Power and amateur Matt McClean next month and he insists he has no more excuses as his game is close.
"The last two PGA Tour ones, made two cuts, but in the first one in Honda Classic, I was negative for strokes gained approach," said Harrington, who is unhappy with his results, despite making the cut in three of his four starts alongside the young guns since finishing fourth in Abu Dhabi.
"All my irons, just the lies were off. I changed them all the following week and I improved by nine shots, but I didn't putt very well. That kind of summed up my year so far. I've done everything well at some stage and very well at stages, but just not all together. So yeah, I could have a big week, there's no doubt about it.
"There's nothing in my game that I'm worried about. I'm not sitting there saying, oh, my iron play isn't good or my driving isn't good or anything. They're all actually very good and when they come together it, and they don't all have to come together, but when they get a little bit closer together, it should be a winning week."
The Masters is three weeks away and 2015 champion Jordan Spieth showed form as he carded a four-under 67 to lie just one stroke behind early leaders Ryan Brehm, Germany's Stephan Jaeger and Adam Schenk in the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook's Copperhead Course.
On the DP World Tour, Frenchman David Ravetto and Norway's Kristian Krogh Johannessen fired five-under 67s in windy conditions to lead the SDC Championship at St Francis Links in South Africa's Eastern Cape by a shot from Scot Connor Syme.
Tom McKibbin is tied for 100th after making two birdies, two bogeys and two double-bogeys in a 76.
