WGC Matchplay: There was a curious symmetry as Padraig Harrington ambled down the line of golfers on the practice range at La Costa searching out a chink in the human chain beating balls in the southern California sunshine. The Irishman stopped mid-order as a player vacated what had been his tiny, temporary patch of real estate, writes John O'Sullivan at La Costa
It was Rod Pampling, the Australian whom Harrington faces in today's opening round of the WGC Accenture World Matchplay Championship, and as the two passed there was a nod and a smile. Pampling ventured: "See you tomorrow mate, I guess."
Harrington arrived in Carlsbad on Monday following his 13th-place finish at the Malaysian Open, relaxed and reasonably satisfied with the state of his game. Malaysia had been his seasonal bow, a tournament cut short by 18 holes because of torrential rain. He probably would have made top 10 had the event run its intended course.
This week he faces a completely different challenge as world golf's elite dispute a €6.3 million prize fund with a winner's cheque that comes in a few cent under €1.2 million. In this tournament everyone is a winner financially, but there is a sliver of pride at stake given, with the exception of Sergio Garcia and Thomas Bjorn, the top 64 golfers in the world are here to tee it up.
Most players affect an air of indifference, citing the vagaries of matchplay and about it "being on the day", but such nonchalance can seem a little hollow. They are professional sportsmen and losing is rarely palatable.
There is some mitigation in that attitude in the sense that the better player will rarely lose over the 36-hole format - such as the Wentworth tournament - but over the shorter distance a poor start can be a handicap.
Harrington is "happy enough" with his game, but pointed out he will get a more rigorous appraisal of its well being starting today.
His attitude to this format smacks of simplicity. "You concentrate on your own game, but you have to be aware of how your opponent is playing. There are times when you have to play conservatively and sensibly, and then there are times, particularly if your opponent is struggling, that you have to be a little more aggressive. It's about taking opportunities."
He won't look past the Pampling match, but should he survive he'll take on the winner of the match involving Argentina's Angel Cabrera and another Australian, Peter Lonard.
The draw is divided into sections named after Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Sam Snead, and alongside Harrington in the Player bracket is Graeme McDowell.
Originally scheduled to face world number one Tiger Woods prior to Bjorn's late withdrawal, he must now test himself against Vijay Singh.
He comes in to the tournament with three missed cuts in as many tournaments and complaining about "feel and equipment". He's working on a lower ball flight and also trying to find a putter with which he feels comfortable, but is looking forward to a format of golf that he not alone enjoys but at which he is very adept harking back to his amateur days.
"I feel that matchplay suits my game," said the Walker Cup winner. "I have had a good matchplay record all my life in amateur and professional (golf), so I am excited about the prospect. I like this golf course because you can make a lot of birdies, and I might need those to beat Vijay. I have never played with Vijay before. I've met him on a number of occasions and he is a nice guy, but he'll be a tough opponent."
Darren Clarke returns to competitive fare following his decision not to play last week due to his wife's illness. A former champion here when he memorably beat Woods 4 and 3 in the 2000 final, he faces Shigeki Maruyama.
From a sartorial standpoint he'll be sporting trousers made by Soho tailor Mark Powell, whose influence is from the 1920s and 30s, while he's included a new TaylorMade 425 driver in the bag this week.
Paul McGinley will be the first of the Irish in action this morning, the eighth match out on the course. He squares up to Shingo Katayama coming off the back of a solid if uninspiring showing at Los Angeles that was made to look a little patchier than it was with a three-over 74.
Having gone to university down the road in San Diego, he's well versed with the challenges of La Costa. His runner-up finish in the matchplay event at Wentworth last season and his superb victory in the Volvo Masters at Valderrama underlines the new level to which he has brought his game. His traditional tenacity won't compromise his chances as he looks to set up a second round match with Colin Montgomerie or Sweden's Niclas Fasth.
SELECTED TEE-TIMES
First round (all times Irish)
4.28: P McGinley (Ire) v S Katayama (Jap)
4.55: P Mickleson (US) v C Howell (US)
6.34: P Harrington (Ire) v R Pampling (Aus)
6.52: D Clarke (NIre) v S Maruyama (Jap)
7.01: T Woods (US) v S Ames (Can)
7.19: E Els (Rsa) v B Langer (Ger)
7.37: V Singh (Fij) v G McDowell (Ire)
7.55: R Goosen (Rsa) v P Broadhurst (Eng)
On TV: Sky Sports 3, 7pm
