Sports Then and Now

Padraig Harrington will be looking for his third British Open title.

Padraig Harrington believes that his recent form is so good that he could be the man to beat at next week’s Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s.

The Irishman rose to number three in the world after winning the US PGA Championship at Oakland Hills, in 2008, but he has since slipped down the rankings, after he decided to revamp his swing.

Unfortunately, all his hard work has failed to pay off and, having won just once since his last Major triumph, he has regularly admitted that he may be trying too hard to improve.

However, after cutting down on his marathon practice sessions, he appears to have rediscovered some of his old magic in 2012, and has finished in the top-10 at both the Masters and the US Open, this year.

This has led to him being tipped in the Open Championship odds to cause a major surprise in Lancashire and, remarkably, claim the fourth Major title of his career.

His recent positive form has undoubtedly boosted the plucky Irishman’s confidence ahead of the tournament and he believes he is now in with as good a shout as anyone to lift the famous Claret Jug.

“I always think that if you’re looking for a good indicator of form, [the bookmakers are] very rarely wrong. So I’m fourth or fifth favorite and that’s good – I’ll take that. As I say, bookies are sharp people,” he said. “I don’t need the results to prove to myself that the direction I have taken is the correct one.

“But it is valid to say that you need wins every so often in order to ease the external pressure. Yes, a victory would be important for me. And I believe it’s coming,” he added.

Harrington is 19/1 for the Claret Jug in the Betfair golf odds. He trails the favorite, Tiger Woods, as well as Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, and Rory McIlroy in the bookies’ sympathies.