Ireland’s Padraig Harrington tees-up with fellow European Tour Members Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman, both from South Africa, and American Jim Furyk in the US$1.35 million PGA Grand Slam of Golf over 36 holes at the Mid Ocean Club in Bermuda on Tuesday, October 14.
Harrington, the record-breaking winner of back-to-back Majors in The Open Championship and the US PGA Championship this year, also qualified 12 months ago for this event following his 2007 Open Championship triumph and lost in a play-off to Argentine’s Angel Cabrera.
“There’s a little bit of unfinished business after last year,” said Harrington. “When you’re a shot ahead playing the last and you’re within 12 feet for an eagle you expect to win. All credit to Angel last year, but I felt there was something to come back for – I want to go one better this year.
“I’m going to be trying very hard to win. It’s a good event and there is a relaxed atmosphere about it and I want to win. The Mid Ocean Club course is tricky in places – you can rack up a number out there. But there’s also plenty of opportunities for birdies.
“It’s an exciting course with lots of challenges which makes it very interesting. It is tougher if the wind blows but that’s great for me. I’m comfortable in the wind so I’d say it’ll be to my advantage if the wind blows.”
The balmy Atlantic breezes will heighten the challenge for the US$600,000 first prize with record crowds expected to follow Furyk, Goosen, Harrington and Immelman on the picturesque ocean-side course designed by Charles Blair MacDonald and opened in 1921.
Harrington added: “It’s the kind of course where you have to manage yourself well. There is a lot of strategy involved and it’s a great field – so you’ve got to play well to win. You have to focus on your own game and do your own thing. Jim Furyk has played here a few times and the course suits him but I think it suits me, too.”
Harrington and Immelman, who captured the Masters Tournament last April, qualified as Major Championship winners but with Harrington winning two, and Tiger Woods injured following his US Open success, Furyk and Goosen qualified through the Major Championship Points List, organised by the PGA of America, with Past Major Champions being assigned point values to their finishes in this year’s Major Championships.
Harrington, however, starts favourite following his astonishing summer which could still end in Order of Merit glory as he will bid in the Volvo Masters at the end of this month to become Europe’s Number One again. That would give him the chance to be the first golfer to defend European Tour Number One status in The Race to Dubai starting at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, China, on November 6.
“Let’s be realistic, winning two Majors in any year is a real bonus,” added Harrington. “The results have exceeded expectations in some ways but my goal is always to get myself into position to win these big tournaments and I believe I can continue to do that. I may not win 50 per cent but if I get into a position to win 50 per cent of the time I’ll get my fair share of titles.”
Harrington admits that his Number One target in 2009 will first be the Masters Tournament – victory would leave him chasing a consecutive Grand Slam achieved only by Tiger Woods – but while he must wait six months to challenge for Augusta National’s Green Jacket he can win a Pink version at Mid Ocean.
Bermuda have stolen a trick from the Masters by awarding a Pink Jacket to the Grand Slam winner and Harrington adds: “I’d prefer a green one – that’s very strong in my mind for next year. It would be great, though, if the Pink Jacket were a forerunner to that and I’d be happy for it here.”
