Padraig Harrington with caddie Ronan Flood and coach Bob Torrance. He's in a race against time to hit form for The Open
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Padraig Harrington admits he is facing a race against time as he bids to make a successful defence of the Open title he has held since 2007.
His form has hardly been sparkling and he realises there is still much work to do on his creaking swing to be ready for Turnberry next week
The Irishman has spent time with his coach Bob Torrance but accepts things are not looking good.
“At the US Open my backswing had totally gone off. We were not trying to change that but I was focusing so much on the downswing. For my preparations to be spot-on for The Open, I realise I shouldn’t be tinkering with my swing.
“I'm still well capable of winning when I have not performed properly but it reduces my chances.”
Harrington is playing the Ladbrokes Irish PGA Championship this week before heading to Ayrshire. He leads on 138 after two rounds but isn't happy with his form.
“No, I didn’t play very well, he said after his 70 at the European Club in Brittas Bay yesterday. " I seem to have lost a bit of the rhythm in my swing and it was getting worse as the round went on. I can’t really complain with the score,” he said, which featured three birdies and two bogeys and plenty of scrambling, testament to the strength of his short game.
Earlier in the week he said: “There comes a point when you have to go with what you have. I’m always optimistic and I still believe I’m going to be ready. But then again I thought I’d be ready for the US Open.
“I don’t believe in suddenly clicking into form, I feel I have to work my way into it. But I’m always trying to improve and sometimes there are short-term sacrifices for long-term gains,” says Harrington.
