All-conquering Harrington still driven by fear

Published on Wednesday 20 August 2008 10:33

THREE major wins, two in the last month, have not dispelled the fear of failure that is at the core of Padraig Harrington's success.

The Irishman said yesterday that he wished he could take greater confidence from his titles, having added the US PGA Championship nine days ago to last month's second successive British Open.

"Most of my life I've been motivated by fear," the 36-year-old said at Ridgewood Country Club, where the Barclays tournament opens the FedExCup playoffs tomorrow. "I took no confidence out of winning the Open last year. I still played the same way for the following year.

"One of the things I said after the PGA was in order for me to move to the next level (I had] to take some confidence from winning three majors.

"I'd love to say to you that I will turn up and play this week and stand on the first tee and strut my stuff, but that's just not what I'm like. Generally, when I play my best golf I stand over every shot worrying about where I'm going to miss it.

"I'd love to be able to be the guy who doesn't see the miss and stand there and play with that confidence, and stop the reliance on adrenaline and intensity in order to get the best performance out of myself."

However, after a fantastic finish with the putter at the PGA allowed him to turn a three-shot deficit into a two-stroke win, the world No.3 said his focus was such that he clearly saw the line of every putt he had. "When I do get focused, I do hole putts. That's one of the things I do, when I get into the zone, I can hole long putts, good putts," he added.

"I do need to have that bit of intensity to do it. When you get that in majors down the back nine... when it's a do-or-die situation, it's easier to be focused. You see the hole and you knock them in."