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Harrington feeling more relaxed at Augusta

Open champion Padraig Harrington said he is more comfortable coming to Augusta this year as he seeks to add the U.S. Masters to his major title resume.

Harrington, whose best Masters finish was a tie for fifth in 2002, said last July's Open triumph at Carnoustie might make him "a little bit more relaxed" in a major presenting similar obstacles.

"Carnoustie obviously is probably the toughest of the links golf courses and certainly the toughest of the Open rota," Harrington told reporters on Tuesday.

"You are tested... when you play links golf courses to deal with a bit of adversity, and I think of all the parkland golf courses, (Augusta) does throw in that adversity and test that sort of mental strength.

"Golf was always about not just testing the ability to hit the golf ball well but to handle the different things that are thrown up. Augusta really does test everybody on all fronts."

Harrington, who tees off with 2003 champion Mike Weir of Canada and India's Jeev Milkha Singh when the tournament begins on Thursday, admits it will be a testing few days.

"I always say when you come here, the test is right there," the Irishman added.

"It's not good enough to hit your iron shots straight into the greens. They have got to be struck right so that they land in the right sections and also stop in the right section.

"I think of all of the courses you've got to be 100 percent here. Coming down the stretch, hitting into all the greens through the back nine, there's an awful lot of intimidation factor on those holes, and you've got to be spot-on."

Despite the course's severity, the Masters is always a special tournament for the 36-year-old who is returning for a ninth time.

"Coming back to Augusta, it's always a magical place, and it's somewhere that you can't wait to get to," he said.

"I would say a lot of my practice is done with the idea that I want to improve my golf swing so I can manage to play Augusta.

"It's right in the forefront of my thoughts. If you can get around Augusta, hit the shots out here, there's no golf course you can't play."

Harrington, ranked 12th in the world, said course management and putting would be key.

"You make good decisions and putt well, you'll have a good week," he said.

April 9, 2008