Padraig Harrington will break his own rules by playing with an injury as he
bids to end a 19-year home drought in the Irish Open which starts at the new venue
of Fota Island on Thursday.
The 29-year-old Irishman, with a record of 12 second places in five years,
is suffering a long-term wrist injury but he is determined to become the first
home champion since John O'Leary in 1982.
"It's my third injury problem recently, neck, back and wrist now,
all down my left side," he said on Wednesday.
"At the PGA this year I said I'd never play again with an injury because
the last time I spent the next couple of weeks trying to correct a flaw brought
about because of doing so.
"But I'll probably go back on my word. There's 90 per cent chance
I'll play. And I'm not thinking of surgery. It's not that serious.
"It fascinates me how myself and the rest of the Irish guys under-perform
at this event," he continued.
"Every year myself and Paul McGinley discuss tactics and I think we'd
all be delighted if any Irish guy were to win here and take the monkey off the
back of the rest of us.
"Outside the majors the Irish Open is one title for any Irish golfer to
win. There's so much pressure to do so, though. My tactic this year is to
take it easy and not get too stressed."
Harrington has already won at the spectacular Fota Island venue, having taken
the Irish Amateur Strokeplay title in 1995.
His wrist problem could stand in his way of a repeat success but Harrington,
who played with Tiger Woods in the last round at the U.S. Open a fortnight ago,
is determined to defy the pain.
"I changed my swing at the weekend when I was with my coach and it's
put a bit more strain on my old left wrist injury," he said.
"I slipped playing my very last Gaelic Football match and sprained my
wrist. It's stayed with me for 12 years."
A ninth place finish could take Harrington top of Europe's Ryder Cup table.
He trails leader Swede Pierre Fulke -- not playing this week -- by only 34,300
points.
Another Swede, Patrik Sjoland, defends the title, while Europe's last
two winners, Andrew Coltart of Scotland and Australian Peter O'Malley, are
also in the field along with Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke, both desperate
for some success.
The two big guns would welcome the $230,000 first prize to move up Europe's
rankings after slow starts to the season.
Two of the Tour's most exciting youngsters, England's Paul Casey,
tied second last week in only his fifth invitation event, and Adam Scott of Australia,
a winner in his first year on tour, play together.
Jose Maria Olazabal, in the vulnerable 10th spot in the Ryder table, begins
a four-week run in Europe.
