Padraig Harrington is set to embark on his fourth European Tour season with a radical change of strategy. "I plan to take more time away from the game," said the 27-year-old Dubliner, who will return to action in Australia in the Heineken Classic at The Vines Resort, Perth, starting on Thursday.
It has been a productive venue for Harrington on his last two visits. In 1997, he broke the course record by two strokes with a stunning second round of 63, and last year he shot a closing 66 in a gale to move from 42nd position into a share of third place behind Thomas Bjorn.
"That was an amazing day," recalled Harrington. "I was actually on the plane, baggage and all, ready to take off for home, when I got a message to return to the course.
"Conditions were so tough that most of the field went backwards and there was the chance I might get into a play-off. It didn't happen, but I think the average score that day was probably about 74 (in fact, Bjorn shot a 74 and runner-up Ian Woosnam had a 76), so my six-under had a nice look about it."
Harrington will carry a new logo on his apparel this season, after signing a sponsorship deal last week with Irish Life. The contract will be the company's first venture into this particular area, and reflects Harrington's status as an extremely marketable player, who characterises the progressive and admirable face of modern Ireland.
After making a spirited defence of the World Cup in partnership with Paul McGinley last November in Auckland, he took seven weeks off. "I really needed that - to relax and enjoy life," he said. "Actually it would have been a more extended break if I had a bit more confidence in my game."
In the event, he joined a gym, tried to improve his fitness and lost about a stone in weight. Since Christmas, he has resumed practice and has twice flown to Scotland for sessions with coach Bob Torrance. He has also been to MacGregor Week in Spain for further work on his game.
"I'm now ready to get going," he said confidently. "And I'm mentally stronger than I've ever been. I'm really looking forward to getting out there, not least because of the changes I have made in my schedule this year."
Harrington explained: "I'm playing 28 tournaments, which is down from 36 in my first year. Basically, I had a look at how I prepared as an amateur and came to the conclusion that I perform better when I take time away from the game."
He added: "Over the last two years, I hardly took a day off except for travelling. Now, I have decided that every time I play a tournament I'm going to have two days' rest, at least. My immediate plan is to play the next four tournaments in a row, then take two weeks off. I then play three-in-a-row followed by three weeks off; then two, followed by a week off."
All of this is being done with the twin objectives of improving his world ranking and making a worthwhile challenge for a place in next September's Ryder Cup team. It will be recalled that for the 1997 matches at Valderrama, Harrington was 12th in the final table from which 10th-placed Miguel-Angel Martin was later omitted.
The Dubliner lost out when the last automatic place in the team went to JoseMaria Olazabal, who was 11th in the final table, and Nick Faldo and Jesper Parnevik were named as wild-card choices.
"Sure I'm thinking about the Ryder Cup," he admitted. "Everybody wants to make the side, but I've no intention of doing what I did two years ago when I tried to play every event and get every available point. This time around I'm making fewer appearances in qualifying events, but I'm hoping to earn more money per tournament.
"If that gets me in, well and good. But I'm not going to allow it dominate my thinking like it did for Valderrama. Either way, the schedule I've planned will involve considerably less stress than the grind of turning up every week and winning smaller cheques."
Meanwhile, unlike 1997 and 1998 when he made US Open and USPGA Championship appearances, he has not qualified for a place in any of the American "majors" this year. Indeed he has no plans to play in the US this season, though there is the option of at least one tournament invitation if he is so inclined.
As for the other objective of improving his world ranking, Harrington is acutely aware of the increased importance attaching to this list. Currently 107th, he is looking, ideally, at a place in the top 50. "In that way, I can secure invitations to all the leading tournaments such as the US Masters, US Open and the World Championship events," he said.
After claiming final Order of Merit positions of 11th and eighth in his opening two seasons on tour, Harrington slipped back last year to finish 29th. But he broke new ground on home territory by capturing the Smurfit Irish Professional Championship at Powerscourt last October.
Meanwhile, European earnings of £208,013 lifted his career money to £1,082,438 for 67th position in the table. This represented quite an achievement for a player only three seasons on tour, even allowing for increased rewards.
Whatever his success this season - and he must a leading challenger for Ryder Cup honours - Harrington has the confidence and mental strength to plough his own furrow. And if mistakes are made, he will be ready to accept the responsibility, especially now that he is taking more time to himself.
