No hang-ups as Harrington's season moves up a gear

GOLF / INTERNATION OPEN: Out on the course at The Belfry, set amidst ever-maturing trees, there is what is known as a half-way hut.

When Padraig Harrington made a fleeting visit there yesterday during the necessary nuisance of the pro-am, it crossed his mind that it would be the perfect place to display golfing memorabilia and, in particular, the incorrectly signed card that proved so costly to him in the International Open two years ago.

Later on, Harrington thought of an even better place to put the framed card. "Do you know, I'd love to hang the non-signed card in my house," he said.

The reference was to the house that he and wife Caroline are building near Rathmichael, in the foothills of south Dublin, and the idea of hanging the card (potentially more costly than any item of art) appealed to what he called "my sick sense of humour," before adding: "I must hunt it out."

That he should seriously consider acquiring the infamous card, which effectively cost him the title here in 2000, indicates that the bad memories have not lingered.

It will be recalled that it was discovered only minutes before the final round that the signature on the first-round card was that of playing partner Michael Campbell, and not Harrington, and he was immediately disqualified.

"It's not a painful memory, not at all," remarked Harrington, who has recovered from the ankle injury that prevented him playing in the Irish PGA two weeks ago.

Indeed, Harrington being Harrington, the competitive inactivity of the past couple of weeks didn't prevent him from working on his swing - and that has created its own problems for the Dubliner as he heads into the tournament.

"I've probably been tinkering a little bit too much with my swing to be competitive this week. I think I need a couple of days to change my focus," he said, "and I need to hit the ball a little bit differently."

Having eased his way into the season, this is Harrington's first conventional tournament in Europe this year.

Although he played in the Seve Trophy at Druids Glen, where he won four out of five points, the European Tour counting events he has played in have been in the United States (two), Malaysia and Dubai.

This event marks the start of a three-week run that will also take in the TPC of Europe in Germany and the Volvo PGA at Wentworth, before he takes a two-week break ahead of the US Open.

In terms of financial rewards, the B&H is dwarfed by the money on offer over the next two weeks but, as Harrington observed, "it's a big event in the field that it attracts and in world ranking points."

And of course, there is the added incentive of playing a course that will play host to the Ryder Cup in September.

Sandwiched as it was between the Ryder Cup that didn't happen and one that is a little over four months away, Harrington believes it is an important week for the team to bond.

"In Ryder Cup week, there are huge demands on everyone and it is a tense week. Everyone is out on the course fighting for a place. It is a good idea to have team meetings, as we have done this week, and to have a bit of fun.

"I think it should happen again during the season, where we all meet up and discuss things," said Harrington.

In fact, Europe's captain, Sam Torrance, is already thinking along the same lines and views the Smurfit European Open at The K Club in July as the perfect opportunity to have another team get-together.