Harrington and Clarke pinpoint putting

THE ONE-time trendsetters have changed roles. Once they pioneered the path for Irish golfers on the international stage, one claiming WGC titles, the other a string of Majors, to stimulate others to follow. Now Darren Clarke and Pádraig Harrington, one the wrong side of 40, the other approaching that milestone, head into the British Open seeking inspiration of their own.

If you listen to them, you hear all the right things. In each, there is a belief that the game is ready to turn, the ball-striking and the mental focus is good. The one common factor of concern, though, is the area of the game – putting – where titles are won and titles lost, where cuts are made and missed.

Putting. A blessing for some, and a curse for others. Clarke, who awoke to a 4.50am alarm call yesterday so he could finalise his preparations alongside Rory McIlroy in a practice round, claimed to be playing well “tee to green”, but admitted to having problems on the greens.

As he explained, “to compete and contend this week, not only are you going to have to play well but you’re going to have to putt very well, because everyone is going to miss greens around this course, and especially with the breeze.

“So, you’re going to have to up-and-down it very well, and the greens are undulating to say the least. So, it will be tough.”

He added: “I haven’t quite got my feel, it just isn’t there at the minute. At least it hasn’t been for the last couple of days, but it could be (for the championship).”

Putting, too, was the focus of much of Harrington’s pre-tournament work. The Dubliner, winner of the title at Carnoustie in 2007 and at Royal Birkdale in 2008, tuned-up by playing in the weather-hit Scottish Open which served the purpose of getting him into a comfort zone and reacquainted with links golf, hitting shots off tight lies.

But Harrington is, in fact, well ranked in terms of putting on both tours. In Europe, he is sixth this season in putts per greens in regulation; on the US Tour, he is 20th.

However, still believing he has the game to compete, Harrington explained the need to improve with the blade.

“I’m probably hitting the golf ball a bit better than I have in the past. I swing it better and hit it better. The short game is strong enough. I just haven’t been putting it as well. That would be the normal strength of my game and I have to be patient with it and let it come back.”

In a way, it suits Harrington to come in a bit under the radar this week. McIlroy has deflected the attention away from a whole host of players, and the three-time Major champion is one of them.

And, having spent time with mind guru Bob Rotella in recent days, Harrington accentuated the “positives”, as he put it, of having won two recent British Opens.

“I’m a good links player, so I’m familiar with the territory . . . I haven’t played my best golf so far this year, so I’m still looking for that little bit of a spark.

“Maybe the week of an Open championship is the place to find it?”

Indeed, Harrington, who turns 40 in August, is adamant his drive and hunger remains as strong as ever. The hunt for more Majors is the real driving force.

“Would I have taken two or three Majors at the start of my career? Well, I’d have taken two or three tournament (wins) at the start of my career. Winning Majors would have been beyond my expectations. But, now, I’ve done it and I have high expectations going forward. I feel in a good position going forward and very optimistic about my game.

“I’ve got the game to do it (win another British Open) and I feel in good stead.

“I played well enough last week (in Scotland). I didn’t putt well enough, so I’ve got to putt well and play well at the same time, which is always the case for an Open championship. It’s certainly within me.

“I won’t say I have it all put together and am just waiting to start, but neither am I panicking in any form. I am letting it happen.

“I’m happy where I’m at. I won’t say I’m playing the best golf of my life, but I’m quite happy where I’m at and, certainly, it could be around the corner.”