Tiger Woods has dominated the build-up to the AT&T National Pro-am at Pebble Beach this week. Not surprising given the momentum he has created in his last four tournaments.
For Irish eyes though it is the appearance of Pádraig Harrington’s in the United States that is of the most interest, having not played on the other side of the Atlantic since September.
Ireland’s three-time major winner almost certainly has to win on Sunday to book himself a place in the first world championship of the season. Any failure to do that will damage his hopes of retaining his Ryder Cup spot later this year at Medinah
Harrington has played every Accenture Matchplay apart from the inaugural one in 1999, but he stands 93rd in the world and has to climb back into the top 65 to make the trip to Tucson later this month.
The Dubliner has turned to Dave Alred – the man who has linked up with world number one Luke Donald and rugby star Jonny Wilkinson – to help him this season They worked together for the first time in Abu Dhabi a fortnight ago.
Harrington came only 35th and wrote afterwards about Alred “I am very excited about working with him and I can’t wait to get to see him again. I was asked about what he does. The best way I could explain it was that he doesn’t have new answers or questions, he merely asks the same questions but in a different way.
“He observed what I do and then gave his thoughts on how I could do it better. He has totally changed the way I will practice by giving it more meaning. The changes will have a huge effect for the rest of the year.”
Harrington plays in Pebble Beach with racehorse owner JP McManus and start on the Monterey Peninsular course on Thursday.
Woods will tee off at Spyglass Hill.