The Irish Open moves to a new home in May at Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort and Padraig Harrington is among those looking forward to the new challenge presented by the Co. Limerick course.
Q: What are your memories of Adare Manor?
Padraig Harrington:My memories of the golf course are that it is a beautiful layout, very picturesque and an enjoyable golf course to play. The setting provides a very quiet, peaceful golf course. The thing for me is that it sits well with my eye and encourages me to play good golf.
Q: Is it important to have a course that suits your eye?
PH:You have to battle hard on golf course which doesn’t suit your eye. The golf course that suits your eye is a delight to play. There is something about it that makes you feel comfortable on it. The whole experience of Adare is like that. From the minute to you get to the town, whether you are inside the estate or not, there is a fantastic atmosphere and it is a wonderful place to be. That all adds to the experience of the week.
I think one of the big things about the Irish Open is that everyone who plays is going to enjoy it. Everyone travelling there feels like it is one of the best weeks of the year so even if the golf doesn’t go so well they know they are going to have a good time.
Q: The Irish Open has always been like a festival?
PH:I think the players always enjoy the atmosphere of an Irish Open. We saw that at the JP McManus Pro-Am in 2005, and although the weather was not particularly good that weekend across Ireland, at Adare it was beautiful.
Q: How does Adare Manor stand comparison against some of the other great courses in Ireland?
PH:Adare has something that a lot of parkland courses don’t have - mature trees all the way through. Hundreds of them. It is a very mature parkland course. Only three holes - six, seven and eight - are at all exposed and the rest are well set in the trees. That’s what makes it so good a golf course and setting, it is a framed setting. It is not something you get that often. Often on Tour we play courses without this maturity on them. I know Adare is not that old a golf course but the trees give it a maturity and on every hole they give you tremendous coverage and shelter to play good golf.
Q: What holes will play a key part in the outcome of the Irish Open?
PH:The 18th will be a very exciting hole. It is a very tough drive. If you hit a good drive you have a tough second shot to hit the green and it is somehow easier if you hit a bad drive as you can lay it up and hit your wedge. I think definitely the 18th will be a key hole. I think there are a lot of good holes. All the holes around the Manor are good holes. The 16th is a great par three across the water. In fact, all the par threes are difficult, tight holes. Narrow greens as I remember and plenty of water. The whole course is, I believe, going to be a tough test.
Q: Will having won the JP McManus in 2005 give you an advantage come May?
PH:I don’t think it will give me an advantage but what it does give me is a sense I have played well on the golf course before. Whenever you win on a golf course, you then know you have the game to win on that course and the course suits you. It is an event I am looking forward to but unfortunately that doesn’t give me a one shot start.
Q: What would it mean to you to win the Irish Open?
PH:As I always say at this time of the year, the Irish Open is definitely something I want on my CV. It is a big title and definitely something you want to win. No question. At this stage I want any Irish title. John O’Leary won in 1982, 25 years ago. But this is a great opportunity for me. We are coming to a golf course that suits me. I am looking forward to it without a doubt.
Q: It is also the first event in Ireland since The Ryder Cup – will the success at The K Club have a knock on effect for the Irish Open?
PH:I think could have a knock on effect. In Limerick the fans came out and supported the JP McManus Pro-Am and I think they will come out and support the Irish Open. With The Ryder Cup, I think it had a big effect on the golfing public but a bigger effect on the non-golfing public of Ireland. Hopefully it will bring them out, get more non-golfers out for the Irish Open. Maybe people saw The Ryder Cup but were unable to get tickets and now want to come and have a look and see what all this fuss about this game is all about.
Q: Which could keep the festival atmosphere?
PH:That is part of the Irish Open, to maintain the character of the event. That would help people want to go back there.
Q: Where does the Irish Open rank for you?
PH:It is massive in my career because it is my home title. The younger players coming out on Tour, they perhaps don’t think about the Irish Open the same way as the players 10 or 20 years ago. I can see a lot of the European pros really liking it here.
Q: What are your plans up to the Masters Tournament and then up to the Irish Open, which will be your first event in Europe of the year?
PH:I will play the World Golf Championships – CA Championship in Doral and then Houston before the Masters and then three weeks off, then play in Wachovia and the TPC at Sawgrass. Then home to Ireland.
Q: How pleased are you with the game at the moment after a couple of good weeks in the States?
PH:My game is good. I’m going in the right direction at the moment. Few little things to work on but I am very happy with where I am, so all good.
Q: Peaking nicely for Augusta?
PH:That would be the idea. I have a couple of weeks off and then a two tournament run-in. So far so good. I am happy with my preparation right now.
Q: Finally this will be the first time you tee up in the Irish Open as the reigning European Number One having won the Order of Merit last year – how will you feel standing on the first tee?
PH:I don’t think that will change anything. The Irish Open is my national title and if you can’t get up for that in the first place then nothing else will. That is enough for me.
