Open Champion Padraig Harrington has admitted he will go into this week’s US Open Championship at Torrey Pines feeling relaxed and comfortable about his preparations and his game.
The 36 year old Irishman – whose win at Carnoustie last July was his 12th European Tour title – revealed he liked the look of the demanding venue for the 2008 season’s second Major Championship when he saw it for the first time on Monday.
“I'm very happy with it,” he said. “It's a good, stern test but it seems very, very fair. I've played nine holes so far in total. I hadn't played here before but I really like the golf course.
"The last two weeks I've been getting into my focus. My concentration is getting better, my thinking on the golf course, my sharpness, all those things have been improving.
"I'm happy with the last two weeks. They've been a good two weeks to sort out a few things. I feel ready to go and play this week."
Meanwhile, despite playing no competitive golf for eight weeks following knee surgery, World Number One Tiger Woods has declared himself ready for the challenge ahead. “I'm good to go,” he said. "Come game time on Thursday, I'll be ready."
The 13-time Major Championship winner will be strolling on familiar ground full of positive memories.
Woods, who won a world juniors championship on the Pacific Coast course when he was 15, has won six Buick Invitational US PGA events at Torrey Pines including the last four, winning in January by eight strokes.
Woods practised at the venue last Wednesday and again over the last three days. He struck the ball well during nine holes of practice on Tuesday but does not know how he will respond when the bell rings for the second major of the year.
He admitted his knee was not 100 percent but added that finding his rhythm and getting into the flow were his biggest concerns. "It's just how you feel competitively," he explained. "It's how far the ball is flying, how your body is feeling, the shape of shots, what you feel you can and can't hit, what you feel comfortable shaping, your distance control. Hopefully I can get into that rhythm and understand what's going on very quickly."
