Padraig Harrington to host Irish Open?

Padraig Harrington could act as ‘host’ for next year’s Irish Open after the tournament lost its sponsorship with mobile telecoms firm 3.

Despite failing to find a sponsor, the European Tour has suggested that the tournament will keep its place in the 2011 schedule, and Harrington is looking to bring in new sponsorship for the event.

Asked whether the event would be called the Irish Open hosted by Padraig Harrington, the Dubliner said:

“Yes, if I brought the sponsor it would be and it would have that official tag… I could also see Darren (Clarke) or Graeme (McDowell) or Rory (McIlroy) doing the same in the North. I think if there is an ambassador role to be played it would be based on the connection between the player and the sponsor.”

Harrington finished second behind eventual winner Ross Fisher in the 2010 renewal at Killarney, in what turned out to be one of golf’s greatest 2010 duels.

Speaking in Dubai, where Harrington is contesting the Dubai World Championship, Harrington said he had spoken to European Tour chief executive George O’Grady about the issue.

“I have met with George … the tour certainly want to make sure it’s there on the schedule,” said the world number 21.

“It is a big event again in Europe and it’s at a quality time of the year. While it would be good to have a domestic sponsor, the Irish Open attracts global coverage and that’s why it is up there with €3million in prize money.”

Harrington ends trophy drought with Malaysia success

Padraig Harrington brought the curtain down on a two-year winless streak with a convincing three shot victory in the Iskander Johor Open in Malaysia. Harrington beat off a final round challenge from South Korea’s Noh Seung-Yul to claim his tournament success since the 2008 US PGA Championship.

Despite playing the final two rounds with a sore neck which, by Harrington’s own admission would have seen him withdraw from the tournament had he not been challenging, Harrington took a five shot lead into the final round and never looked like relinquishing it, and a final round 69 proved to be more than adequate to see off the chasing pack.

“It’s always nice to win, even nicer when there’s been a bit of a drought. Winning is a habit so it’s nice to come out here and win and do it in style,” Harrington said afterwards.

“I really preferred the conditions that were there in the last two days where it was windy and it was tough to go at all the pins. Today was just perfect weather, perfect conditions.

“The course was in great shape and I knew people could make a lot of birdies out there so it was very important, it was in my mindset that I had to make some birdies out there, even if I made some bogeys, I needed to make plenty of birdies.”

Ryder Cup player Harrington has been largely out of sorts in 2010, but lifting a first prize of nearly $US200,000 – small in comparison to his past winner’s paycheques – will come as a welcome confidence booster ahead of a crack at the Dubai World Championship, and the Irishman wasted little time in trying to put the title beyond reach with three birdies in his four holes, and reached the turn in 34.

Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Noh Seung-Yul finished second after a round of 65, which included three birdies on the final three holes. He finished one shot ahead of Taiwan’s Lin Wen-tang, who carded a 68.

Defending champion KJ Choi closed with a 68 and share of 8th place, while winning Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie shot a closing 69 to share 11th place.

Harrington in command in Malaysia

Padraig Harrington’s two-year trophy drought could be about to end after the Irish Ryder Cup star carded a third round four-under par 68 to open up a five stroke lead at the Iskander Johor Open.

Depsite suffering from a sore neck, Harrington showed it had little effect on his game and he carded five birdies and one bogey at the Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club to open up a healthy advantage over second-placed Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei, who made two birdies in his last four holes to finish on a level par 72.

Afterwards, however, Harrington hinted that his injury was troubling him, and that it could yet play a part in the tournament outcome.

“If I wasn’t leading, I would have definitely pulled out. It’s still a problem. It was a bit better at the end but it was a substantial problem,” said Harrington, a three-time Major winner.

“It eased up a little bit on 16 but I didn’t finish very well. But maybe sometimes when you are injured, it makes you relax a bit more. You accept poor shots and get on with it. My attitude was good all the way through.

“There is a lot to play for. It gives a chance to the field, to a number of guys who are close enough. If someone goes out there and shoots 64, it might put some pressure on me. My goal will be to shoot in the 60s. If someone beats me, I’ll be patting them on the back and saying ‘well done’.”

Singapore player Mardan Mamat shot a round of 70 and lies is third place, six shots behind Harrington while South Korea’s Noh Seung-yul and Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat are tied fourth after rounds of 71 and 69 respectively.

Ryder Cup skipper Colin Montgomerie equalled his best round of the year with a 68 and is in a share of seventh place with defending champion KJ Choi.

Harrington leads at halfway in Malaysia

Ryder Cup star Padraig Harrington maintained his lead at the Iskander Johor Open in Malaysia after a 5-under par 67 gave the Irishman a one-shot lead at halfway over Chinese Tapei’s Lin Wen-tang at the Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club in Malaysia.

Harrington is chasing a first win in two years, and the three-time major winner can thank his putter for keeping him in the hunt and follow

“I didn’t play as well as a 67 and I got a few breaks on the back nine. I struggled quite a lot. I holed a long putt which got my round going a bit, hit two nice shots to make eagle but still had to hole a 25 footer which was a bit of a bonus to come back like that. After 11 holes, I would have settled for one or two under. Five under is certainly a bonus,” said Harrington afterwards.

Victorious Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie shot a one under par 71 to make it through to the weekend on three under par.

Harrington in share of Malaysia lead

Ryder Cup star Padraig Harrington fired two eagles in the last three holes of his first round at the Iskander Johor Open. Harrington shot a 8-under par 64 in the Asian Tour event to tie with Australia’s Marcus Both and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarbrat,

Harrington had opened with three straight birdies and holed an 18-foot putt on the 16th hole after driving the green, before sinking a 25-foot putt at the par-5 last hole.

Harrington’s skipper at The Celtic Manor was also competing in the event and struggled in the heat and windy conditions but still managed to shoot a round of 70.

After his round, Harrington said:

“I played very well on the front nine and had a lot of chances, but I found the wind very tricky.
“I was hanging in there. I had a few more chances but I didn’t play brilliantly or didn’t get the breaks at the start of the back nine so it was nice to finish eagle, par, eagle. That’s a rare thing to do.”

Noh Seung-yul of South Korea leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit and found himself two shots off the lead, tied with his countryman Lee Sung.

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