Purring Tiger confident of denying Harrington hat-trick
WORLD No1 Tiger Woods insists he feels ready to claim his first Major for more than a year and deny Padraig Harrington a third successive Open title this weekend.
Woods was still recovering from knee surgery when Harrington sealed back-to-back triumphs 12 months ago at Royal Birkdale.
But the American has won three tournaments since making his comeback from the career-threatening knee injury five months ago.
And although he failed to add to his 14 Majors at either the Masters or US Open, Woods is confident he is in the sort of form that will see him challenge when he tees off tomorrow morning at Turnberry.
“Granted I’ve not won a Major, but I’ve come close,” he said. “I’ve put myself in position and just haven’t done it. But three wins in the first half of the year – it’s been a tremendous success.”
Woods, who will play the first two rounds alongside England’s Lee Westwood and Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa, remembers being in the early stages of his recuperation when he watched Harrington close in on the Open title last year.
“My day consisted of trying to get from bed to the couch and then back to bed,” he added. “I caught the last nine holes and what Paddy did was pretty phenomenal – a back-nine 32 I believe when it really mattered. He had to shoot a number and he did.”
Three-time Major winner Harrington’s form has dipped in recent months but the Irishman believes his experience of triumphing on the big stage will give him an edge over his rivals.
Harrington, who plays alongside former US Open winners Jim Furyk and Geoff Ogilvy, said: “The one thing I know is that if I get in position, I can win. That’s the nice thing. Others can get there, but they won’t win.
“I’m going for three in a row, so the spotlight is on me. It’s not made it harder, but it’s more high profile. “