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Harrington back on song

Author: Brandon Barker
Date: 16/08/2009

Padraig Harrington takes part in the USPGA Championship this week on the back of an encouraging second-placed finish at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at the Firestone Country Club.

The Irishman finished behind the mercurial Tiger Woods and despite Harrington's capitulation at the 16th hole where he effectively handed the title to the world number one, he is confident of defending the title he won last year.

Harrington, up until last week, couldn't find the form that had shot him to back-to-back Open successes in 2007 and 2008 and the USPGA last year, but a change in fortunes has seen the Dubliner reach the heights he has scaled in the last couple of years and perform in a way that was expected from him.

Harrington will tee off at the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota with fond memories of last year's triumph.

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He will be aiming to replicate the win this time round but world number one, and his conqueror last week, Woods, will be looking to take a Major home with him on his comeback year from injury.

The WGC-Bridgestone Invitational was a great tonic for Harrington who has had a poor year by his standards.

Before his second-placed finish, his best results did not make great reading.

He finished in 20th place at the WGC-CA Championship and a mediocre 24th during the Buick Invitational.

His disappointing 26th at the Shell Houston Open on the PGA Tour just shows how he has struggled this year to live up to his hype following his Open and USPGA fortunes.

Harrington will be looking to follow up his near miss last week with another solid performance and will certainly be keen to arrest his slide in form this year.

The 37-year-old, who trained as an accountant before turning professional, was the first Irishman in 60-years to win the Open in 2007 and has amassed $16,368,991 in career prize money to date.

Standing at 20/1 in the online betting markets, Harrington is second favourite.

However, it's no surprise that Woods is the obvious fancied challenger to his crown and is a very short 13/8 chance.

He has jumped seven places to 10 in the official World Golf Rankings charts after last week's finish and another good performance at Hazeltine would see him climb further still.

Affectionately known as 'Pod', Harrington will be reinvigorated by his coming to form and he won't give his title up without a fight.

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