Padraig Harrington feels refreshed and ready to go as he returns to competitive action for the first time in six months at the 2020 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.
The three time Major Champion has not played on the European Tour since January’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic, while his last competitive appearance came at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March, before the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed his season.
Ahead of his 25th Irish Open - an event he won in 2007 at Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort - Harrington admitted the enforced break caused by the global health crisis was not "a bad thing" as he prepared for his first visit to Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort.
"I’ve been playing for 25 years, having six months off isn’t a bad thing for me," he said. "I spent those six months working a lot on my swing and technique and getting some stuff clear in my own head. The great thing after six months is I’m quite ready to go play some golf.
"I’m injured – six months off and come back with an injury. I hit a lot of balls and pushed my body a bit too far. I’m not competitive, I’m not ready in that sense. You never would be in your first event, but I’m going to give it a shot.
"Go out there and play, no expectations, throw in a few more clichés and see what happens.
"A lot depends on the conditions and how much they move the tees up. I played two practice rounds, yesterday it was a brute and we lost at least a dozen golf balls.
"It was a nice course today. No wind, it played very nice. If you get it in play, drive it well, the difficulty is off the tee, there’s plenty of opportunities.
"The targets are reasonably wide, they have big fringes so you can never be short-sided out there. You can’t have tight pins. If you drive the ball well here you’ll have a good week."
The 49-year-old was due to be captaining the European Ryder Cup team at Whistling Straits in the USA in what is now the week of his national open, but the postponement of golf’s greatest team event to 2021 means he is in County Antrim instead.
However, Harrington seems relaxed despite having an extra 12 months in the role.
"I’ve had a couple of months now since it was announced that (The Ryder Cup) was postponed where I really didn’t have to think about it," he added.
"It’s on my mind at the moment but next week we’ll be back to normal business. The points start again in January and we’ll start thinking about it.
"I sleep very well at night. I think we’re well organised. Even with an extra year, all the administration work is done. All the background is done, the only thing left is to pick the team. That’s it.
"I have less. I don’t have a lot to do at this stage. It is all done, we’ve covered most options and it’s making sure I pick three good picks to go with the nine guys in the team."
