Padraig Harrington will enjoy a relaxed Christmas with his new baby boy and head into 2004 with a comfortable rankings cushion after a last-gasp victory at the season-opening Omega Hong Kong Open.
Harrington will defend his title at the invitational Williams World Challenge next week then take a two-month holiday content with his performance this year and safe in the knowledge his rivals will be playing catch-up. The Hong Kong Open marked the start of the 2004 European Tour season so for Harrington victory here by one shot over Hennie Otto was twice as sweet.
"Since I won the Deutschebank Open in May I have had quite an average year. I have really been looking to win one of the last events to prove my year's standing in my own mind," he said. "This is the second win of 2003. Two wins in a year is pretty good and I can put this down as a good year now.
"And it's a bonus that it counts for 2004, with the European Order of Merit, world ranking points, Ryder Cup points.
"If you are sitting at home, taking eight weeks off and everybody else is competing, you start thinking: `Everybody is going by me, they are getting a head start'.
"But now I have got a head start. I can do my practice, rest on my laurels during the winter and other people are catching up rather than passing me by.
"It means I will enjoy my time off a lot more. It's harder to have time off when you feel you need to be out there playing. A win like this means I can take time off."
It was a win of no little drama after Otto had snatched the lead with a spirited run of three late birdies for a total of 10 under par. It had all looked so easy nine holes in, but suddenly Harrington required two birdies from his last three holes for the title.
The first came with a 12-foot putt on the par-four 17th to set up a thrilling finale. Harrington kept the same ball, teed off again and after a solid approach over the water faced a 20-foot putt for the title which he read to perfection.
A great victory in the end, but dropped shots on 10 and 14 could have cost him and during his eight weeks down time, Harrington will start work on developing his swing with coach Bob Torrance. He complained of a slight hook on Friday and attempting to compensate for it affected his concentration on day three
. The additional element to his swing, Harrington explained, will iron out the shots that led to the two bogeys on the home straight. "The last three weeks I have been working on something new with my golf swing," he said. "It's in my swing at the moment but I like the idea and the move and am looking forward to working on it during the winter because I definitely feel that when I do it right I am striking the ball better.
"We have been working on it for a while. I would have done the opposite on the 14th and the tee shot on ninth were the opposite of what I'm trying to do. "I feel like there is a genuine improvement to be made."