Three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington has added next week’s Austrian GolfOpen presented by Lyoness to his playing schedule as he bids to improve his position in The Race to Dubai.
Harrington is currently 87thin The Race to Dubai rankings and knows he needs to mount a serious charge, starting at the Diamond Country Club on the outskirts of Vienna at the Austrian GolfOpen presented by Lyoness, to get back amongst the top 60 and guarantee a place in the season-ending Dubai World Championship.
The Irishman, winner of the Open Championship in 2007 and 2008 as well as the 2008 US PGA Championship, has displayed encouraging signs of consistency on his most recent performances in America, finishing 13thin The Barclays to keep himself in the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs for an extra week.
“I’m looking forward to playing in Austria next week,” said Harrington. “I have had some reasonable results and have been playing well in America recently so I am looking to continue that trend and get a good result in Austria.
“I know that I need to improve my position in The Race to Dubai, but all it takes is a win or one strong finish and I will get into that top 60.
“I am also keen to make a start on my 2012 Ryder Cup qualification campaign. You never know, it might happen in Austria next week – that is certainly my intention.”
Harrington’s appearance at the Diamond Country Club will be the first time that he has played in a European Tour event in Austria, and he is relishing the opportunity of making his debut in front of the Austrian golfing public.
He said: “It’s quite surprising that I have never played a tour event in Austria, but it is always interesting to visit a new country, a new golf course and to see another culture.
“I’m told the Austrian golf fans really get behind their national open, so it will be great to sample the atmosphere they create.”
