The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Harrington admits fear motivates him

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Harrington admits fear motivates him

Golf /Joins select band of back-to-back winners

— Photo: AP

WORTHY WINNER: Padraig Harrington said working on his mental approach, especially at the start of every year, has been crucial to winning.

SOUTHPORT (England): Staring at the famous claret jug after winning his second British Open in a row, Padraig Harrington explained on Monday how he has always been motivated by a fear of failure.

He won by four strokes at Royal Birkdale on Sunday a year after beating Sergio Garcia in a playoff at Carnoustie, joining a select band of back-to-back winners of golf’s oldest major and the first European in more than a century.

But the Irishman said he has spent his career having to prove he’s a winner rather than relying on natural talent. Working on his mental approach, especially at the start of every year, has been crucial to that.

Motivator

“Fear is, and will be always, the motivator with my golf,” said Harrington, whose last two title wins have been British Opens.

“Every time I took my winter break, I was very anxious that my game would still be there when I came out. You can see from my results that I was always good from the start of the year because I’m anxious to come out and prove myself again.”

Harrington spoiled the 53-year-old Greg Norman’s bid to become the oldest major winner — 15 years after his last triumph, the British Open at Royal St. George’s.

He then fended off a late surge by Ian Poulter, who was trying to become England’s first Open champion since Nick Faldo in 1992.

The Irishman finished with a 1-under 69 for a 3-over total of 283 to beat Poulter by four strokes and Norman and Henrik Stenson by six.

Far from comfortable

What sounds like a comfortable victory was far from it. The wind howled across Royal Birkdale for two straight days and the outcome was in doubt until Harrington’s long approach to the 17th green set up an eagle putt.

Relaxed

He looked relaxed as he sat with the trophy in front of him, but said that even after he won at Carnoustie last year, he still had fears that he might join the list of players who win one major and then virtually disappear.

“I have become more comfortable in the past number of years in terms of knowing a certain level of my game would be there,” he said. “But definitely after winning a major last year, the biggest fear was not to go down the road of guys who have won majors and struggled to keep the intensity after that.

“So, fear is a big part of me and I’d like to say that I have all the trust and patience and like to relax, but that’s not my makeup. (Fear) pushes me on and keeps me practicing, keeps me getting into the gym, so I have to work with it and use it.” — AP

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