The Irish have good reason to be cheerful

Although they departed Augusta National with a definite feel-good factor, the quest for continual improvement goes on.

Significantly, Padraig Harrington - whose tied-fifth finish was the best by an Irish competitor in the US Masters - and Paul McGinley are equally convinced that there is still some way to go on the learning curve before their full potential is reached.

Harrington, who had the distinction of leading the tournament on two occasions in the opening two rounds, remarked: "It's definitely a learning curve. It is 100 per cent a learning curve, without a doubt."

Indeed, in terms of what he needs to do to achieve even more, he added: "Personally, I think I have a lot to improve and I know what to do to improve my game.

"I am in a nice situation in that I got to where I am, and yet I have more to do. If I can do it, that's great. It is not going to be easy, but I certainly have other things to improve."

Likewise, McGinley, who finished tied-18th in his debut Masters appearance, was bullish about the direction he is headed.

"Even though I am 35 years of age, as a golfer I am still quite inexperienced," he explained.

"Last year was my first real breakthrough year, where I competed at the very top level, so this is a follow on from that. Throughout my career, nothing has ever come easy. When I was an amateur, it took me two or three years to make the Leinster team alone. After the Leinster team it took me another two or three years to make the Irish team.

"And after that it took me a few years to stabilise on tour before I got up into the top 50, then top 40 and then the top 30. My career has been a slow progress forward and I am learning all the time.

"I would love it to be faster. I would love to have done this six or seven years ago - but it didn't happen and I have had to learn through the different stages," insisted McGinley.

Harrington, who collected $212,800 for his share of fifth place with Ernie Els, has now had top-five finishes in three majors - the British Open at Troon in 1997 and the US Open at Pebble Beach in 2000 - but he felt that the finish at Augusta represented his best performance because he was in the thick of the action all along.

In fact, he was never once out of the top 10 throughout and, on two occasions early in the championship, actually led.

"I didn't feel like winning was a bridge too far at the time," he recollected, "but I was focused on my own game too much. I wasn't thinking about winning.

"In hindsight, you probably need to be in that position a few times before you are going to do anything about it. If you do get the chance, you've got to try and take it, but the reality is that the more often you are in such a position, then the better chance in the future."

If there was some disappointment with Harrington's game, it concerned his putting. On his debut appearance in 2000, the Dubliner ranked third in the putting statistics and, last year, he actually topped the statistics.

This year, he finished in tied-28th in the putting stats. An indication of how well his approach play with irons was can be gauged from his placing of tied-fourth in the greens in regulation, a ranking topped by Woods.

McGinley also believes his performance augurs well. "My goals (at the start) weren't huge, because I was at such a disadvantage not knowing the golf course and, secondly, not being 100 per cent on my game. It has given me so much pleasure to dig out a good result playing seven, seven-and-a-half out of 10," he insisted.

Darren Clarke, meanwhile, recorded his second top-20 finish in five Masters appearances, but was unhappy with his short game, reflected in the putting statistics where he finished tied-36th.

Like Harrington and McGinley, Clarke heads to the Seve Trophy at Druids Glen this week and, then, on to compete in the Smurfit Irish PGA at Westport next week.