Harrington looking at Major picture as year of improvement on PGA TOUR Champions comes to head
Padraig Harrington tips his cap following his victory during the final round at the 2022 U.S. Senior Open at Saucon Valley C.C. (Old Course) in Bethlehem, Pa. on Sunday, June 26, 2022. (Chris Keane/USGA)
Pádraig Harrington might yet win the Charles Schwab Cup in his first full season on the PGA TOUR Champions, but even if he kisses the money title goodbye at this week's TimberTech Championship, he's fascinated to see if he's better prepared to capture his fourth Major next year.
The reigning US Senior Open champion is qualified for three of the four Majors next season — the US PGA at Oak Hill, the US Open at the Los Angeles Country Club and The Open at Royal Liverpool.
Being in contention to win almost every week on the over 50s circuit has certainly sharpened Harrington's all-around game and given his competitive drive remains undiminished, he can't wait to see if his seniors boost will pay off against the young guns next year.
"The big move for me this year is where does this lead to?" Harrington said ahead of the penultimate Playoff event at tight Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club at Boca Raton in Florida.
"That's really what I look at. Because I've been in contention pretty much every week, you're learning so much about your game. You learn much more at the business end of a tournament than you do when you're in the middle of the field.
"So I see things improving, I see myself tightening up in areas and sharpening up and I'm curious as to where it leads me.
"Do I come out and have a career like Bernhard Langer, which would be fabulous, or does it give me a couple more years with the young guys?
"Do I feel like I could go back and win another major? Do I feel like, you know, yeah, where is it going to take me?
"So what's it all mean and what does it lead to, I don't know. I'm certainly, I'm a better player at 51 than I was at 49 and a half years of age, that's for sure."
Whatever about more Majors, Harrington is 749,960 points behind Alker in the Charles Schwab Cup standings with two events remaining.
There are double points on offer in the playoffs and while a win would be worth 700,000 points this week, Harrington knows he must gain considerable ground on Alker to have any chance of capturing the $1 million bonus in next week’s Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix.
The Dubliner (51) has won three times this year, but with New Zealander Alker winning the Dominion Energy Charity Classic two weeks ago, he's facing a "match ball".
"Obviously, this is the second last of the Playoffs," Harrington said. "I think I've been working out in my head what I need to do. Ideally, I'd like to gain 300,000 points this week to give myself -- to keep it totally in my control next week.
"I think there are 450,000 points between first and second next week, so that would be the main goal.
"Secondary to that, I can't afford to lose 150,000 points. Mathematically, I would be out of it at that stage. So somewhere between those two, losing 150,000 and gaining 300,000 has to be this week."
Alker could kill all the dram and claim the Charles Schwab Cup with the fifth win of a memorable rookie season this week
But he will also claim the season-long title if he finishes solo second and Harrington finishes solo fifth, in a two-way tie for fourth or worse
Meanwhile, Stephanie Meadow shot a second successive one-over 73 to share 64th at halfway in the Toto Japan Classic.
The Jordanstown star needs two big weeks to make the top 60 on the points list who qualify for the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Florida as she's 81st in the standings.
But it appears she will have to do most of the work in next week's Pelican Women's Championship after falling 12 strokes off the pace at Seta Golf Course in Shinga.
Japan's Momoko Ueda shot 69 to lead by a shot on 10-under at halfway from compatriots Miyu Yamashita and Ai Suzuki.
