GOLF:PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON will bring renewed confidence from his performance at the Masters to a course that should fit his game as he makes his debut at the RBC Heritage Classic at Hilton Head today.
The Harbour Town Golf Links in South Carolina favours accuracy and a good short game over power and the two-time British Open winner will enjoy being back beside the sea on one of America’s most picturesque courses.
Harrington finished in a tie for eighth position alongside Adam Scott and Justin Rose at Augusta, his best finish in a Major since his 2008 USPGA victory at Oakland Hills. Harrington is 25 to 1 to end his long run without a win, with world number one Luke Donald favourite to go one better than his play-off defeat to America’s Brandt Snedeker last year. And although Snedeker feels his game is in good shape after finishing 19th at the Masters, he admits competing at Augusta National makes for a stressful experience.
“It’s exhausting, last week was very exhausting,” said Snedeker. “I was tired Monday and tired yesterday, and I got a sleep-in today, which was nice. You have to pace yourself throughout the week and get your mind wrapped around what this week is going to be like.
“It’s going to be a lot less stressful, but that being said, you want to have a lot of meaning on Sunday. I’m excited with the amount of rest I’ve got and I feel like my game is in good shape. It’s time to take a deep breath this week and get back in the normal routine. Last week was so out of the ordinary, it’s great to be back to what we’re used to.”
Snedeker shot a closing 64 at Harbour Town last year before beating Donald at the third hole of sudden death, and the 31-year-old is keen to make a good defence of his title. “It’s always a special feeling,” he added. “I’ve done it once before and I played terrible. At the Wyndham Championship (which he won in 2010) I missed the cut, so I’m trying to take a different outlook this time around.
“I feel like my game’s in good shape, which obviously makes you feel a lot more relaxed. It’s great to be back. You realise that you relive some of the great memories I had last year, replay some of the shots and that kind of stuff.”
Meanwhile, Donald will be out to put a disappointing week at Augusta behind him and claim a second win of the season to consolidate his position at the top of the world rankings. He could have been overtaken by Rory McIlroy or Lee Westwood at the Masters, but with McIlroy fading badly and Westwood falling short of a first Major title, the Englishman held on to top spot despite finishing in a tie for 32nd.
Ireland Boys lost just one of yesterday’s eight singles matches to seal a comfortable 13-7 victory over Wales at Cardigan yesterday with Clandeboye’s William Russell delivering a flawless performance.
Russell rubber-stamped an impressive personal display by defeating Zac Galliford 3 and 2 in the last game on the course to pick up his third point of a possible three across the two days in West Wales.
Going into day two leading 7-5 overall, a close finish looked a possibility when Skibbereen’s Kieran Lynch was thrashed 5 and 4 by Otto Mand and Tim Jordan of Dungannon halved his tussle with Oliver Dickson.
But the visitors moved clear as Paul McBride beat Henry James 3 and 2, Liam Harnett edged Ryan Thomas 2 and 1 and Greystones product David Byrne finished all square with Oliver Mottram before Whitehead’s Matthew Kane (2 up), Faithlegg’s Robin Dawson (3 and 2) and Russell all won.
The Island’s McBride was Ireland’s second-best performer with two-and-a-half points while Milltown’s Harnett, Kane and Dawson all contributed two to the final total.
THE HERITAGE
Course: Harbour Town Links, Hilton Head, Island, South Carolina
Prize money: €4.45 million (€780,000 to the winner)
Length: 6,973 yards. Par: 71
Field: 132
The layout: Tricky seaside course. boasting 49 bunkers and 12 water hazards. Only three par-fives (second, fifth and 15th). Smallest greens on the circuit make for tight targets, with straight-hitting important. Trees and sly bunker positions also demands precision hitting
Defending champion: Brandt Snedeker
Type of player suited to challenge: Straight hitter from tee to thin fairways and then on to tiny greens. Class usually tells here
Key attribute: Accuracy
Forecast: Sunny but breezy
On TV: Sky Sports 3 from 8pm
