'Very poor today mentally' - Padraig Harrington unhappy despite solid start to Senior Open at Gleneagles
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Updated 21/07/2022 at 19:24 GMT
The Senior Open is underway at Gleneagles, and Padraig Harrington is among the favourites as he attempts to back up his win at the US Senior Open. The Irishman made a solid start, but feels he needs to improve on the mental side of things. “I thought I was very poor today mentally,” Harrington said.
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Padraig Harrington played himself into contention in the Senior Open, but was not happy with how he approached the event mentally.
The three-time major winner has tiptoed over the age of 50, meaning he is now eligible for senior events.
He showed his class by winning the US Senior Open earlier in the year, and is looking to back that up at Gleneagles.
Harrington carded a 66 in fiery conditions, which he said was built on the good work of his putter.
He will look to be more aggressive on Friday, and will also attempt to change his mental approach.
"I was very tentative,” Harrington said. “I putted well and my putter saved me most of the day. I was just tentative with my iron shots particularly.
“I should have been a bit more aggressive into the greens.”
First Round Leaderboard
- T1. Stephen Ames, six-under
- T1. Glen Day, six-under
- T3. Paul Broadhurst, five-under
- T3. Jerry Kelly, five-under
- T3. Kent Jones, five-under
- T3. Darren Clarke, five-under
- T7. Simon Khan, four-under
- T7. Scott Parel, four-under
- T7. Padraig Harrington, four-under
- T7. Miguel Angel Martin, four-under
- T7. Dicky Pride, four-under
- T7. Thongchai Jaidee, four-under
- T7. Ernie Els, four-under
Harrington is famed for his work ethic, but he claims the problem he had on Thursday would not be solved by hitting balls on the range.
“I thought I was very poor today mentally,” Harrington said. “I ain't going to find that on the range.
“Doesn't matter what I do if I go down there, I cannot create the same competition on that range - a flat, big field - as I can on the golf course.
"I'll think about it. Maybe do a bit of visualisation and just come out tomorrow and hope I have a better day in that sense. I'm not finding that on the range anymore.
"I was playing with Monty (Colin Montgomerie) this week and he was great. You prepare for Sunday and not Thursday. And I always used to prepare for Thursday and sometimes I would be burnt out by Sunday."
Harrington finds himself two adrift of leaders Glen Day and Stephen Ames, while Darren Clark is at five-under.
Ernie Els, who has urged LIV Golf and PGA Tour to thrash out their differences, made a birdie on 18 to get alongside Harrington at four-under.
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