Harrington hits back after Faldo's blast at Brit pack

Britain's most successful player, with six major titles, spoke out ahead of this week's Open Championship at Carnoustie claiming they get rich too easily and are too friendly with each other to be winners.

Faldo's sentiments were echoed today by world No1 Tiger Woods, who claimed it was easier for the current generation because they only have to finish in the top 10 to be millionaires.

It is eight years since Paul Lawrie became the last British winner of a major when the Scot survived the carnage of a stormed-ravaged, roughed-up Carnoustie to lift the Claret Jug.

And Faldo, who celebrates his 50th birthday tomorrow before teeing it up in his 32nd Open, believes a new generation of British talent is in too much of a comfort zone to end the victory drought.

He said: "Look back at Seve, myself, Langer, Woosie, Sandy Lyle and Olazabal. None of us went round together, we all kept our cards close to our chests. There was a genuine competitive barrier between us all. We told people 'sod off, we're going to play golf '.

"Now the current generation are all having lunch together and then they go off and play for a million dollars. It is interesting to me that now they are all so much more chummy. They seem to want to sort it out with their clubs while we sorted it out with our mind."

Faldo, who today was playing a practice round with two of Britain's top young charges in Justin Rose and Nick Dougherty, added: "We had to win to have a future. Now you just have to get out there and be a very good golfer.

"We had to win to have a pension fund and now you get a contribution towards a pension fund simply by making half-way cuts."

But Faldo's claims were refuted by Harrington.

"So he (Faldo) didn't have a comfortable lifestyle?" teased the Dubliner.

"The question is, how do you want to live your life? Just because you are a nice guy it doesn't stop you winning a major. The guys I know want to win. Their only focus is winning."

Woods, this week aiming to become only the second player after Australia's Peter Thomson to claim three successive Open titles, however, sided with Faldo.

The American said: "The game has changed. When Nick first came out I think he would be the one to attest that you had to win in order to get notoriety. You had to win in order to get money.

"Today you can just get top 10s and make over a million dollars throughout the entire year. That's a great living. I think a lot of guys may fall into that.

"But the talent pool is certainly deeper now than it has been, which makes it more difficult to win and more difficult to gain the experience that you need to have to put yourself in contention time and time again.

"Thirty years ago I'm sure it was a lot easier to get yourself into contention more often, the fields weren't as deep."

Harrington believes a new wave of European talent can take inspiration from the great Seve Ballesteros, who announced his retirement here on Monday.

He said: "When Seve made the breakthrough it brought through others like Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam.

"If I don't win this week I'll certainly be rooting for someone I'm familiar with because I think it would help the rest of us in Europe."

Speaking for the first time since a tearful Ballesteros announced he was quitting competitive golf, Woods revealed how his own game had been shaped by the great swashbuckler.

He said: "Seve has been probably the most creative player who's ever played the game. I've never seen anyone who has had a better short game than him. I've been lucky enough to have the opportunity to pick his brains on several occasions around the greens, watching him hit just shot after shot after shot and have him explain how he did it, why he did it.

"It was just phenomenal. He was a genius." George O'Grady, chief executive of the European Tour, also paid tribute to the Spaniard.

"What a privilege it has been to witness Seve's phenomenal career," he said.

"He is quite probably the most iconic golfer of our era and without question he inspired millions to play the game.

"The European Tour would not be where it is today without Seve's outstanding contribution."