If there was a time that the last place Pádraig Harrington would want to tee up a ball in search of momentum at this time of year was the West Course at Wentworth, then it is an indication of how times have changed that the Dubliner heads to the BMW PGA Championship fuelled by renewed vigour after discovering light at the end of the tunnel.
Although a disappointing final round of 76 in the Byron Nelson saw him drop out of contention down to tied-22nd, which nevertheless constituted his best finish of the season so far on the US Tour, Harrington will seek to bring some momentum to this week’s PGA European Tour flagship event.
In fact, one of Harrington’s more interesting observations about his current mindset came after his third round in Dallas.
"I'm comfortable that my game is going forward, but golf is so much about momentum, a good performance leads to another good performance and so on. That's where I'm at. I need a few good performances and then I'll be playing great."
Par saves
In effect, Harrington put in a fine effort for three-quarters of the race. It was only the last leg that let him down. The trick, as ever, is to put together four good rounds. And at least there was some of the old Harrington back in executing par saves when, in recent times, they were liable to turn into double- or triple-bogeys.
The next week will be important in determining Harrington’s upcoming itinerary. His exemption into the US Open – on the back of his two Major wins in 2008 – has expired, and he will seek to qualify for next month’s championship at Pinehurst No2 by competing in the international sectional qualifying at Walton Heath next Monday.
Harrington is part of an 11-strong Irish contingent at the BMW PGA – it starts Thursday – where he is joined by Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Peter Lawrie, Darren Clarke, Michael Hoey, Simon Thornton, Damien McGrane, Gareth Maybin, Paul McGinley and Damien Mooney, who earns his place off the Irish PGA region order of merit.
One absentee is Graeme McDowell, who has opted to stay in Orlando with his pregnant wife Kristin.
"I much appreciated Graeme taking the time to phone me personally to tell me he wouldn't be at Wentworth but the fact that he wants to spend time with Kristin is understandable," said European Tour chief executive George O'Grady.
Career wins
Harrington, McIlroy and Clarke are among 10 Major champions who will be competing at Wentworth, among them the in-form Martin Kaymer who added the Players Championship to his list of career wins when triumphing at Sawgrass a fortnight ago.
Italy's Matteo Manassero will defend the title having won in record-breaking style 12 months ago when he became the youngest winner in the event's history.
At the other end of the spectrum, Miguel Angel Jimenez, one of eight BMW PGA champions in the field, will be looking to extend his record as the European Tour's oldest champion and bid for back-to-back wins on tour following his win in the Spanish Open.
