Padraig Harrington heads into this week’s 3 Irish Open believing he is close to ending his two-year drought as he looks to regain his National Open title he previously captured in 2007.

Although the three-time Major Champion is without a European Tour win in since his US PGA Championship victory of 2008, he has had 14 top ten finishes in the last 12 months.

While he admits he is just keen to win ‘any event’ at the moment, the Irishman feels playing on home soil would be the perfect tournament to convert form into success.

"I've had more top 10s in the last year than I've ever had in my career, so going on a guideline that most people use I've actually had the best year of my career,” he said.

"I haven't won and that's certainly below my expectations and everybody else's expectations, but my form has actually been solid enough.

"I've been in contention quite a bit recently but it is frustrating that I haven't got across the line. I'm losing a bit of patience with myself but my game is solid - I just have to wait and let it happen.

"I’ve won the Irish Open before so I’ve ticked that box but I would dearly love to do it again."

While Harrington’s Irish Open victory came at Adare Manor three years ago, it is the Killeen Course at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club that he will face this time and the 38 year old said he was a big fan of the new venue.

“I've been saying to anybody, we couldn't find a nicer spot in the world in terms of scenery,”   he said. “It's right up there with the very best.  It's all set up for a great event.”

It is the first time that Killarney has hosted the Irish Open since 1992 and one survivor from that event is newly appointed Ryder Cup Vice Captain Darren Clarke.

“The greens are a lot more undulating than what I remember,” said Clake.   I think they have redone the greens and moved in some new tees.

“The course's protection this week is going to be the breeze, which I believe we are going to get some, because it's not the longest that we play on the Tour.  So the attention is on the severity of the greens and the slopes of the greens.

“I think it's going to be a low scoring week so I think the spectators will have a lot to look forward to.”

Like Harrington Clarke’s recent form has been promising, finishing runner up to Edoardo Molinari in the Barclays Scottish Open, and he has already had his hands on some silverware in Ireland this month – winning the JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am at Adare Manor.

Both Clarke and Harrington will be attempting to make it back-to-back home winners of the 3 Irish Open following Shane Lowry’s success last year.