Padraig Harrington hopes to align all facets of his game in order to turn some good recent form into victory at his home Irish Open this week.
The three-time Major Champion has had five global top-ten finishes in 2013, but is still to win a European Tour event since the 2008 US PGA Championship.
However, Harrington is confident all that can change at Carton House this week after some impressive recent displays.
“Certainly all parts of my game have been good at times this year,” he said. “I need to put them all together in one week or one time for four days. If I do that, obviously I have a great chance of winning.
“They don't all quite fall into place and try to give myself some chance of winning on Sunday, but that's the main thing is to be in contention with nine holes to go. You never really know when you can get that feeling with nine holes to go, a bit of pressure, it really can keep the focus in and that's where you want to be.
“It can happen this week, that's for sure.
“The course is very playable out there and scoring should be better than it was the last time. I think it really is a course you'll see a lot of players coming off with a smile on their face.”
Another home
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looking to end a lengthy wait for a European Tour title is Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley, who clinched the last of his four victories in 2005.
“Obviously great to be here,” McGinley added. “Irish Open is always a big week in the calendar, not just for the golfers but for the Irish sporting public.
“I played quite well at Wentworth to be honest, and chipped and putted well but didn't score particularly well, I think I finished 50th there, and unfortunately I've had four weeks off since then so I have not been able to build on that. I'm playing this week, French Open next week and the Scottish, and looking forward from now to the end of the season playing quite a bit of golf hopefully.
“I think we have a view here in Europe that it's important for the Captain to still be competitive on Tour. And I take The Ryder Cup duties seriously; that it's important that I remain competitive and something I want to do, to be out competing with the guys and be at the tournaments rather than just hanging around trying to speak with the players; I want to be there for a reason.
“I'm certainly motivated to have two good years on the golf course.”
