Harrington aims for Open repeat

Updated 10.54 Mon Jul 14 2008

Keywords: padraig harrington, the open championship, the open golf, the open, golf, sport

Reigning champion Padraig Harrington wants to repeat the routine that helped him win The Open 12 months ago.

The Irish golfer beat Sergio Garcia in a play-off at Carnoustie to claim his first-ever Major title and there are already omens that suggest he could win the Claret Jug again.

"If I knew which socks I wore during the week I would probably wear the same ones again" - Padraig Harrington

Last week, he defended the Irish PGA title he won in the build-up to his 2007 glory.

Now he has asked his sports psychologist Bob Rotella to stay with him at Royal Birkdale and he plans to attend the annual golf writers' annual dinner.

Harrington said: "If I knew which socks I wore during the week I would probably wear the same ones again."

But the Irishman insists his behaviour is practical rather than superstitious.

He added: "It's not a situation that I'll eat my dinner at 6.30 and have spaghetti bolognese because that's what I did on the Monday night of The Open.

"You look to your best events and you say 'Well, how did I do that, what did I do there?' and you try and build it up.

"That in many ways is how I prepare for all my tournaments. You try and learn from everything.

"You have to go there with a clean slate and play the 2008 Open at Birkdale for the sake of that event.

"I'm not denying that it wouldn't mean more to me at The Open this year, but I do have to make the effort to make it feel just like a regular event.

"There will be extra things around it, there's no question. There is more of a sideshow going back to defend any tournament and you are a bit more in the spotlight, but you've got to downplay it a little bit.

"It doesn't matter what I do in my defence - I still am the 2007 Open champion. I'm not going there to prove anything."