Harrington Confident Heading to Augusta

Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington will head to the US Masters in a couple of weeks, knowing full well he will be competing in the "ultimate test of golf" when he tees of at Augusta. While the Irishman has tasted success at the Open Championship and the PGA Championship, his record at the Masters is decidedly mixed. His two fifth place finishes in 2002 and 2008 have been his highest places at Augusta, while Harrington has also failed to make the cut on three occasions, the most recent of those being last year and the golf betting indicates he could struggle again.

The 39-year old is well aware of the task in hand if he wants to be in contention heading into the final round on Sunday. The unforgiving Augusta course can completely bamboozle players who aren't prepared for it but Harrington is looking forward to taking on the one of the tour's toughest courses.

"It's a spectacular golf course, very intimidating. If you can win around Augusta you can win around anywhere. It's pretty much the ultimate test of golf. Hopefully I can produce a solid performance over the first three-and-a-half days and then a spectacular last nine holes," he said.

Harrington hasn't been enjoying the best of form since picking up his last major triumph at the PGA-Championship in 2008, picking up only two tour titles, both relatively small events at the Irish PGA Championships and the Iskandar Johor Open. There have been some promising signs this year, a decent showing at the WGC-Cadillac saw him finish tied for tenth, but anyone following the US Masters betting will know he has to step things up if he is to win in Augusta.

While his game isn't exactly where it wants to be, his three majors show Harrington certainly has all the attributes needed to win the big tournaments. If the Irishman is going to get back onto the major trail then he's going to need to produce some better form than he managed last year at the four majors. Harrington missed the cut at three of the four majors, registering only a 22nd place finish at the one he did make at the US Open.
Experience counts a lot at Augusta though and that could be a deciding factor when the opening major of the year tees off.