Golf: Harrington Wishes He Wasn't Here

Golfers are a perfectionist breed yet there are few who seek perfection with the obsessiveness of Padraig Harrington, a man who is apparently prepared to overturn centuries of sporting tradition in the pursuit of improvement. "I’m playing very badly. Actually, it would probably have been better if I’d lost so that I could go home and practise," the Dubliner said after beating Angel Cabrera in his second-round match of the World Matchplay.

Alas for Harrington and his endless quest for improvement, he had the misfortune to birdie the last three holes of his match against the Argentinean and won at the first extra hole, progressing to yesterday’s third-round match here in California against the world No2 Vijay Singh. All was not lost, however. The Fijian has played beautifully all week and is the strong favorite to progress, although Harrington’s competitive instincts and putting touch gave him a fighting chance.

A win for the Irishman would leave him with a quarter-final match against either Chris DiMarco or Davis Love, competent players both but neither of whom would offer a challenge to match Singh. Another victory and Harrington would then be in imminent danger of losing another opportunity to practice, as well winning the £747,000 first prize on offer at the first World Golf Championship of the year.

His only chance of salvation lay with the in-form Tiger Woods and his Ryder Cup colleagues Luke Donald and David Howell, who was due to face Phil Mickelson in a tie eagerly awaited by everyone - everyone, that is, except Howell.

"Well, he’s a great great player, isn’t he," the Englishman said. "But that would make it even better if I won."

The three games involving Europeans were part of a quality last-16 line-up. Three more were all-American duels - Woods v Chad Campbell, DiMarco v Love and the defending champion David Toms against Tom Lehman, the Ryder Cup captain who might yet earn a place in his own side for the K Club in September.

Canada’s Mike Weir, winner of the Masters three years ago, met Geoff Ogilvy, the only Australian left from what was a 10-strong contingent, and the American Zach Johnson faced Shingo Katayama. The 33-year-old Japanese player had put out Colin Montgomerie, the Scot unable to turn his game around after missing halfway cuts in Dubai and Perth.

Montgomerie was five over par in somehow beating Niclas Fasth on day one and one over against Katayama.