Fuente: © PGA (Professional Golfers' Association)
http://www.pga.info/

GOLF: PGA: Harrington ready for action

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Two-time Open champion Padraig Harrington is hoping his Royal Birkdale victory will not leave him as flat for this week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational as his win at Carnoustie did 12 months ago.

That dramatic 2007 win in a play-off with Sergio Garcia gave the Irishman his first major victory and led to big-scale celebrations that he admitted left him flat for most of the rest of his season.

"Winning it for a second time is different," Harrington said. "There was a severe high from winning at Carnoustie - messing up down 18, getting a second chance, taking that second chance and winning a first major and the adrenaline rush and everything that I did with it."

He added: "You're only going to win your first major once and I made sure to enjoy it.

"There was a lot that happened afterwards and I was very flat after I won it. The Bridgestone, the PGA Championship, FedEx Cup, I really struggled. My game came back towards the end of the year and I had a couple of illnesses so it definitely took a lot out of me."

This time around, and heading into two big tournaments with the Bridgestone and then the US PGA Championship, Harrington still took a week off following his four-shot victory over Ian Poulter to celebrate his retention of the Claret Jug but insisted he had been dealing with his repeat success with more discipline than he did his initial win.

"This time round it was a more satisfying win, the way it happened was more confidence boosting and I was definitely walking away with a lot of satisfaction," he said.

"I did celebrate, had a couple of parties but I didn't do much of the extra stuff. I didn't do the civic reception, didn't do much media, one press conference, and I think that reflects the difference between winning the first and winning the second.

"So I'm in better shape, still a little bit flat and all the markers were down a little bit last week but gradually, hopefully, coming back this week, and hopefully I should be in better shape come the PGA next week."
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