GOLF: US PGA Tour news:Pádraig Harrington, in isolation at home last week after contracting shingles, switches to America this week as he continues his search for a first victory since the British Open last July.
Harrington plays with his close friend JP McManus in the AT and T National Pro-am at Pebble Beach, Spyglass and Poppy Hill in California.
Harrington, who makes his second appearance in the event and his first on the PGA Tour this season, is delighted to be back at Pebble Beach.
"When I came here and played the courses last year, I really, really warmed to them," he said. "They suit my game.
"They're very similar to conditions that I would experience at home. If I was to choose a style of golf course to play competitive golf on, these would be them."
Traditionally, the Pebble Beach tournament has been dominated by the bigger hitters, and length is likely to be a welcome bonus on three rain-softened courses.
"I think I've played two tournaments in the last 10 weeks - I had a couple of illnesses that sort of stopped me in my tracks," he said.
"I'm not 100 per cent competitive, but I'm 100per cent ready to go."
While Harrington recovered last week, Tiger Woods captured the Dubai Desert Classic to make it five wins in a row going back to last September.
Asked about the possibility of Woods achieving a first-ever Grand Slam of all four majors in one season, the Dubliner said: "It doesn't matter if Tiger is the odds-on favourite to win the next 12 events - I'm going to play my own game, my very best game every time.
"If there are 155 guys in every week, I can't control them. I can't control Tiger. I can't control anybody else. The only person I can look after is me.
"And if Tiger wins the next 12 Grand Slams, as somebody was saying on the range up there, I'll pat him on the back and say 'well done'. My goal is not to worry about anybody else.
"I think there's a good depth behind Tiger. He may be playing the best golf of his life, he may be the best golfer we'll ever see play golf, but I think it's a big challenge to do that."
Three-times champion Phil Mickelson, meanwhile, is eager to convert a strong start on the 2008 PGA Tour into victory this week.
The American world number two has posted top-six finishes in his first two appearances of the season and is confident he can maintain an improving trend.
Mickelson tied for sixth at the Buick Invitational two weeks ago before being edged out by his compatriot JB Holmes in a play-off at the Phoenix Open on Sunday.
"I played okay in my first week and I played better in Phoenix," the 37-year-old said during preparation for his title defence at Pebble Beach.
"I feel like my game is improving. I'm looking forward to Pebble. I feel like I'm starting to play better each round as the year goes on and I expect to improve my play this week, too."
Also competing are sixth-ranked American Jim Furyk and 2004 winner Vijay Singh (11th).
