Pádraig Harrington: ‘I am capable of winning the Open. I’m better mentally’

Winner of three majors and former Ryder Cup captain is back on form and believes he could play this autumn against the US

A missed cut at the 2006 Open was irrelevant to Padraig Harrington by the time he lifted the Claret Jug the following two years. This has not prevented the retention of memories from the toasted Royal Liverpool of 17 years ago. A European heatwave reduced the Open to dust.

It freaked me out and having been over to see it again, I am in discussions with my club manufacturer," he says. I waggle quite aggressively and it was so burnt in 2006 that when I put the club on the ground, it kept slipping. I was afraid of hitting the ball when addressing it. It was uncomfortable. So I have been practising leaving my club two to three inches behind the ball and I have been checking with the guys if there is anything to put on the sole of my club to make it less slippy." Harrington leaves nothing to chance.