PADRAIG’S BORING IN SCOTLAND

Harrington sums up round that took him to Dundonald summit

PADRAIG HARRINGTON described his steady ascent to the top of the Scottish Open as boring – but then that’s just the way the old man likes it. In his prime when he was knocking off three Major titles in the space of 18 months, Harrington was a fretting, obsessive, workaholic who was never off the practice range. So much so that his constant over-analysis ultimately led to his spectacular plummet down the rankings as he inexplicably decided to rebuild the swing that had just delivered back-to-back Open victories and the 2008 USPGA Championship. But these days Harrington has mellowed since coming to terms with the fact that at 45 years old, his greatest career achievements are most likely behind him. So why keep forcing it? Why put yourself under achievementsCV extreme already pressure that burstingmostto add golferswithto a could only dream of emulating? But here’s the funny thing. Just by easing off his pedal-to-the-metal relentless drive for perfection has actually improved his chances of delivering the success he used to crave so desperately. For yesterday’s stroll around Dundonald Links in 68 blows felt like an effortless bounce game in the enjoyable company of his playing partners Anirban Lahiri and Byeong Hun An. That, as he soon explained, played a big part in his relaxed demeanor that allowed him to gently grab the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open by the throat, perched prettily on nine under par at the half way stage. But the most important aspect is that he has simply stopped caring whether he wins or not. Harrington said: “I’ve come to a conclusion at this stage. “When I came on Tour I played with some of the elder statesmen and I used to watch them fighting it. “At times I asked them, ‘why are you fighting it?’ and they’d say ‘well, if I can win one more tournament...’ “And I was thinking, you’ve already done everything you’re going to do – one more tournament is not going to change it. I’d hate to be that guy. “So I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ve pretty much done what I’ve done in the game of golf, so I will just enjoy being out here. Why bother beating myself up? “If I win another Major, or even three or four Majors it’s not a huge deal. It’s not going to change me so there’s no point in me fighting it now. “I’m enjoying what I’m doing and kind of letting it happen. “And because of that I’m not surprised to be where I am on the board just now. It will happen pretty regularly. “I can’t do it on-demand though. I can’t tell you it’s going to happen next week when I go back to Birkdale. But it will happen, just like winning in Portugal six months ago or winning the Honda the year before.”