Harrington back in action

2008-02-06

Share this article:  Digg |  StumbleUpon |  del.icio.us |  Reddit

PEBBLE BEACH, California (Ticker) -- Padraig Harrington switches from the European PGA Tour to the United States this week as he continues to search for his first victory since winning the British Open last July.

Harrington, who spent last week at home in isolation after contracting shingles, will play with close friend J.P. McManus in the AT&T National Pro-am at Pebble Beach, Spyglass and Poppy Hill which starts Thursday in California.

While Harrington may not be completely healthy, he is ready to get back on the golf course.

"I think I've played two tournaments in the last 10 weeks - I had a couple of illnesses that sort of stopped me in my tracks," Harrington said. "I'm not 100 percent competitive, but I'm 100 percent ready to go."

While Harrington recovered last week, Tiger Woods captured the Dubai Desert Classic for his fifth consecutive win dating back to last September.

When asked about the possibility of Woods achieving a first-ever Grand Slam by winning all four majors in one season, Harrington declared that he's only concerned about his level of play.

"It doesn't matter if Tiger is the odds-on favorite to win the next 12 events - I'm going to play my own game, my very best game every time," Harrington said. "If there are 155 guys in every week, I can't control them. I can't control Tiger. I can't control anybody else. The only person I can look after is me.

"And if Tiger wins the next 12 Grand Slams, as somebody was saying on the range up there, I'll pat him on the back and say 'well done.' My goal is not to worry about anybody else."

Harrington also pointed out that while Woods maybe favored to complete the Grand Slam this season, it won't be easy for him to achieve the task.

"Last year there were three other major winners," Harrington said. "It's interesting that the prediction is he's going to win the Grand Slam when he won two a year for most years and he only got one last year.

"I think there's a good depth behind Tiger. He may be playing the best golf of his life, he may be the best golfer we'll ever see play golf, but I think it's a big challenge (to win all four majors)."