Fear factor drives Harrington

SOUTHPORT – Padraig Harrington insisted that he would not allow his achievement in winning back-to-back British Opens reduce his drive to extract every last ounce of success from his talent.

In reflective mood after Sunday’s triumph at Royal Birkdale, the Irishman admitted that fear of failure had always been and would remain a prime motivational force. “My results are always good at the start of the year because I am anxious to prove myself again,” he said.”Last year the biggest fear was that after The Open I was going to go down the road of those who have struggled to keep the intensity after their first major.”Fear pushes me on, keeps me practising, keeps me going to the gym.”I’ll have time this week to reset my goals.There are some exclusive clubs in golf – I’ve moved into a new one with two majors, win a different major is another category and win three different ones is another.”Whether I succeed or not you need clear goals to retain the intensity.”Harrington, who paid tribute to the influence of veteran Scottish swing coach Bob Torrance, readily admits he does not have the reserves of natural talent that some of his peers enjoy.But he has come a long way on the back of “determination, fortitude and an ability to work through things,” the qualities he regards as his primary strengths.”What you have under the surface is more important than what you have on top.Mental strength is far more important than talent.”Harrington will now apply those qualities to the objective of winning the final major of the year, the US PGA.After winning his first Open at Carnoustie last year, Harrington could only manage 42nd place at the final major of the year, 16 shots adrift of Tiger Woods.But he anticipates being better prepared this time around.”Last year it was far too much far too quickly – I don’t think it’s going to be like that this year,” he said.”It was a blur.This is more satisfying, but I don’t believe I’m going to be as mentally hit.”I’m looking forward to the PGA – I’ll have to be disciplined in some areas, but I should be ready.”Describing Bob Torrance, father of former Ryder Cup captain Sam, as a genius, Harrington acknowledged the scale of his debt to the grizzled old Scot.”The knowledge he has of the golf swing is second to none and just incredible.He has spent his whole life examining swings and I have total trust in him.”Harrington meanwhile expects Open runner-up Ian Poulter to go on from his near miss here to play his way into Europe’s Ryder Cup team for the September match against the Americans in Kentucky.Poulter remains outside the automatic qualification spots but Harrington backed him to change that between now and the end of August, when Nick Faldo will name his team.”I think it’s inevitable Ian will play his way in from here.He’s shown he is a big-time player and that’s the type you want in the Ryder Cup.”Harrington also feels Poulter’s showing here might persuade Faldo to opt for the Englishman as one of his two captain’s picks.Nampa-AFP”My results are always good at the start of the year because I am anxious to prove myself again,” he said.”Last year the biggest fear was that after The Open I was going to go down the road of those who have struggled to keep the intensity after their first major.”Fear pushes me on, keeps me practising, keeps me going to the gym.”I’ll have time this week to reset my goals.There are some exclusive clubs in golf – I’ve moved into a new one with two majors, win a different major is another category and win three different ones is another.”Whether I succeed or not you need clear goals to retain the intensity.”Harrington, who paid tribute to the influence of veteran Scottish swing coach Bob Torrance, readily admits he does not have the reserves of natural talent that some of his peers enjoy.But he has come a long way on the back of “determination, fortitude and an ability to work through things,” the qualities he regards as his primary strengths.”What you have under the surface is more important than what you have on top.Mental strength is far more important than talent.”Harrington will now apply those qualities to the objective of winning the final major of the year, the US PGA.After winning his first Open at Carnoustie last year, Harrington could only manage 42nd place at the final major of the year, 16 shots adrift of Tiger Woods.But he anticipates being better prepared this time around.”Last year it was far too much far too quickly – I don’t think it’s going to be like that this year,” he said.”It was a blur.This is more satisfying, but I don’t believe I’m going to be as mentally hit.”I’m looking forward to the PGA – I’ll have to be disciplined in some areas, but I should be ready.”Describing Bob Torrance, father of former Ryder Cup captain Sam, as a genius, Harrington acknowledged the scale of his debt to the grizzled old Scot.”The knowledge he has of the golf swing is second to none and just incredible.He has spent his whole life examining swings and I have total trust in him.”Harrington meanwhile expects Open runner-up Ian Poulter to go on from his near miss here to play his way into Europe’s Ryder Cup team for the September match against the Americans in Kentucky.Poulter remains outside the automatic qualification spots but Harrington backed him to change that between now and the end of August, when Nick Faldo will name his team.”I think it’s inevitable Ian will play his way in from here.He’s shown he is a big-time player and that’s the type you want in the Ryder Cup.”Harrington also feels Poulter’s showing here might persuade Faldo to opt for the Englishman as one of his two captain’s picks.Nampa-AFP