Open Form Guide

08	07	06	05	04	03	02	01	00	99
1	1	MC	-	MC	22	5	37	20	29

Reflecting on his win at Carnoustie in 2007, Harrington said that had he failed to claim the Claret Jug he may never have recovered from the disappointment. But he did win and for 13 months refused to look back, successfully defending the title at Royal Birkdale and then closing out the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills. Those two victories were won on the back nine and seemed to indicate that the Irishman had got the knack of closing out majors licked. Harrington has never rested on his laurels, however, and felt that he had to continue to improve so undertook a process of swing rebuilding. Unfortunately it hasn't worked and his results have spiralled out of control. Since Augusta he has missed five cuts in six events and could only finished 49th in the exception. One ray of hope remains: his Open Championship secret weapon. What is it? Simple - his habit of playing the Irish PGA Championship in the week before the Open when he hones his competitive instinct on a links course. In 2007 he won both events in a play-off, in 2008 he won both events by four shots, in 2009 he has already won the Irish PGA by seven shots. It surely won't be by that margin, but what price a repeat at Turnberry?