‘I can win more titles,’ says Padraig Harrington
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Padraig Harrington (pictured above) is confident he can follow up his shock Honda Classic victory in Florida with more winning performances in the future.
After a long spell in the golfing wildnerness, the three-times major champion reckons he still has the game and craft to win at the highest level.
He said: “I really do believe in myself and think I’ve found that mental edge I’ve been lacking the last number of years.
“Hopefully I can stick with that going forward and can be consistently contending again because I know if I am in contention I can win.
“It’s not about what it means to my career or what it means going forward – you don’t win that often. When you win, make sure you enjoy it.
“Believe it or not,when I get in contention I can still hit the shots.”
The Dubliner held his nerve to chalk-up a remarkable win in the Honda Classic, seeing off the challenge of local favourite Daniel Bergerin a play-off this afternoon at Palm Beach Gardens in Florida.
Harrington not only claimed his first PGA Tour win since 2008 but also won a place in the US Masters after charging through the field to win an event he first won in 2005.
The former Open champion (twice) and US PGA Championship victor struck the winning blow on the second play-off hole, a stunning approach to four feet piling the pressure on the young American who found the water with his tee shot.
Harrington started the day five shots off the lead but while overnight leader Ian Poulter and the strongly fancied American Patrick Reed saw their challenges fall away, the Dubliner hit form with four successive birdies from the 11th to reach seven under and the outright lead.
However, the Irishman displayed plenty of grit and courage to force the play-off, recovering from a potentially disastrous double bogey on the penultimate hole to birdie the last and force extra holes.
Poulter had to settle for tied 3rd alongside Paul Casey and Scot Russell Knox, all -5, just one clear of Welshman Jamie Donaldson who signed off with an outstanding 66.
