Winning a major will do wonders for the confidence, winning two sends it through the roof. As Pádraig Harrington made his first appearance on home soil since retaining the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale on Sunday that was plain for all to see.

The Open champion strode purposefully into the media glare again this afternoon, silverware in hand. He granted a young fan a photo opportunity and then took his seat at the top table to speak of toppling Phil Mickelson, if not Tiger Woods, in the world rankings and his preparation for the US PGA.

The Dubliner was fresher faced than after his first win at Carnoustie last year. Winning came easier the second time round, both mentally and physically, and the celebrations were muted because there's more to be done.

Harrington has taken to targeting majors now and he dismissed any suggestion today that he will get a rude awakening when the playing field is levelled at Oakland Hills next month.

While his victory has been universally acclaimed and he is a hugely popular champion, there was criticism of the course and the conditions, and whispers that Harrington won't be as comfortable when the PGA Tour players are in more familiar territory.

The 36-year-old admitted today that the conditions suited him at Birkdale but he argued that there was no tougher "mental test" than the Open and he has performed as well as anyone when in America this year.

"There's no question that the conditions at this Open, particularly, suited me," he said. "I was ready for it, I was prepared for it.

"If we played every week in those conditions, I would see myself as having an advantage.

"No doubt, if you go to nicer conditions, nicer, fairer in terms of the bounce it will bring more people into it. It's not as strong a mental test.

"These are the strengths I have, the mental strength and strategy. Put me on a more neutral golf course, where strategy is dictated more by everybody doing the same thing and conditions are the same and everything is fair.

"It brings more people in, there's no doubt about that. Does it bring the better people in? Who knows?

Harrington pointed out that he has finished in the top five in his 10 starts on the PGA Tour this year and that's "up there with everybody", while his best shots at a major prior to Carnoustie came in the Masters and the US Open.

"I'm quite comfortable in the US. There is more players out there…I'm quite able to manage it, but its true there will be more competition for me."

The win at the weekend moved Harrington to the third in the world rankings. In the quiet moments, like when shaving this morning, he has thought about making inroads but he won't look further than Mickelson at the moment and only referred to Woods as "number one" today, as if the mere mention of his name might jinx the plan.

"It's a tough battle to catch Phil there but I'm sure he wouldn't mind the competition. It would probably push both of us on. World number is a little bit further up there but Phil knows he's got to push so I know I have to if I want to catch eh…y'know. It's quite a few wins away."

Harrington was similarly reluctant to entertain the debate as to where he stands in the hall of fame. Much of the public discussion since Sunday has focused on whether he can be classed as Ireland's greatest ever sportsman. Dwelling on that, he says, would only hold him back.

"I don't think I can allow myself to think about that. I think you look at a career at the end of the career," he said. "I still feel like I'm in the middle of it.

"I'm not going to sit back and start looking at that and start making comparisons because it would only hinder my ability to go forward.

"It's very nice to be in the category of Ireland's great sporting heroes, but I'm not going to put much time in it at the moment because it would definitely hinder your ability to set goals and move forward."

One imagines, however, that in those quieter moments the thought does cross his mind but with the World Golf Championship, the USPGA and the Ryder Cup yet to come, there's so much more that can be done.

For now, joining Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson and Woods in the elite club of consecutive Open champions over the last 50 years, will have to do.

[  Click here to listen to Harrington's press conference in full  ]