Apart from the financial benefits, over $100,000, Padraig Harrington is glad he prepared for the United States PGA championship by playing in the Buick Open last week. The Dubliner, who finished sixth in Michigan and with a round to go was lying joint second, insisted: "It was a good idea. Normally I'd come and play a few more practice rounds on the major championship course, but this is not a course you want to play three or four times. The greens are so big you couldn't possibly putt to every pin position or play a shot into every area."
Harrington's 20-under-par finishing score on Sunday would win most tournaments, but he was five behind winner Kenny Perry. He added: "You can't complain about 20-under on any given week. I was quite happy except for three holes on the last round. I did everything well apart from hole enough long putts."
A similar score this weekend would run away with the final major of the season. The Atlanta Athletic Club is a par 70 and measures 7,213 yards. Harrington, playing just his third US PGA, has been able to gauge his growing profile in America in simple terms. He joked: "People will address me by my first name and get it right. They love to prove they can say it. Some ask, but others would actually go ahead and have a go at it."
Filed by Shane Murray
