Padraig Harrington has discovered light at the end of the tunnel, and it isn't an on-rushing train. The Dubliner's second-place finish in the Italian Open, behind Scotland's Dean Robertson, is what he terms a "significant boost" to his season and has enabled him to reset his goals and targets for the coming months. "What made it all the more pleasing is that I know I can play a good deal better, that I have a lot more improvement in the tank," said Harrington, who has moved from 39th up to 10th place in the European Tour money-list and improved from 27th to 14th in the Ryder Cup rankings as a consequence of his performance in Turin. However, a number of factors - among them his wife Caroline's birthday and, also, a dislike for the course - means he won't be bringing that form on to the French Open this week and he is taking a few days break from tournament play before resuming competition at next week's Benson and Hedges International at The Oxfordshire.

"I know Dean changed his mind and decided to play in France, to keep his form going, but I won't miss it. I'd prefer to do a bit of practice because I have a few things to work on," he said.

Indeed, Harrington intends to travel to England early in order to work "on some things" with his coach Bob Torrance.

Although Harrington's runners-up finish in Italy represented his third top-five of the season, it was his most gratifying performance - "I was never going to win in either Malaysia or Madeira," he explained - and has given him a new focus. "It was a bonus to do so well and know that I can still play a lot better," said Harrington. "It has given me a good platform for the season. The Ryder Cup? If I get a win I'm really in there, but I'm moving well up. But it (the Italian Open) has given me a good bit of confidence for the next tournament. I learnt some good things, some positive things."

Indeed, one of the more positive elements to come of his performance was his switch to a new ball and, ironically enough, Harrington was in the Portmarnock Hotel and Links bright and early yesterday morning to launch the ball onto the Irish market.

"It gave me an extra 15 yards, honestly," said Harrington. "Even my caddie Dave (McNeilly) told me he won't let me use anything in future but the Revolution. If it was a free market out there - and it's not for professionals - I believe everyone would be using it. It is that good."

Explain, please. "Well, it gives a much better flight. It is not ballooning in the wind, it just goes straight and definitely gives extra distance but it also has tremendous feel."

Importantly, the second place finish in Italy has given Harrington renewed confidence and a determination to work even harder on his game, principally his short game which he claims he "neglected" when restructuring his swing. However, an indication that the remedial work has been successful is that he has moved from 130th in the driving statistics on the European Tour last season to eighth place in this season's table after the Italian Open.

"My short game let me down in Turin, full stop," insisted Harrington. "It's a part of my game that I've let slip, to be honest, and it is only in pressure situations that you are found out. But I was still in with a chance, although I felt I probably needed to birdie the 17th to put pressure on Dean (Robertson). But he played great and deserved to win."

However, Harrington, rarely without a smile to his face, appeared to have a new bounce to his step yesterday and agreed that his main goal now is "related to trying to win an event." And, while the Ryder Cup will obviously be another ambition, he insists that such hopes are solely a consequence of playing well in tournaments.

In fact, apart from winning, his focus up to the British Open in Carnoustie in July will also be to force his way into the top 75 in the world rankings which would give him exemption into the US PGA and also put him in line for a place in the WGC Championship at Valderrama later in the season.

Harrington, Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke all miss out on the French Open and will resume at the International in the Oxfordshire next week, the start of a big-money sequence that also takes in the TPC of Europe and the Volvo PGA. However, four Irish players will be in action in Bordeaux this week: Des Smyth, John McHenry, Eamonn Darcy and Philip Walton. McHenry at last had the satisfaction of making his first cut of the season in Turin last week but his prizemoney of €1,458 leaves in a lowly 187th in the money-list and with much work to do if he is to retain his card.