Ryder Cup record gives Harrington hope of European joy at US PGA

Eight of Bernhard Langer's side which trounced Hal Sutton's United States team 18.5 to 9.5 are returning to the course near Detroit, Michigan to contest the final major of the year.  

Two-time Open champion Harrington believes the experience of succeeding at one of America's toughest courses under pressure-cooker conditions can only benefit the returning Europeans.  

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'I think it's just an advantage to anybody who's played a tournament of that intensity going into the PGA because the golf course changes when the heat of battle comes on and you've got a bit of adrenaline,' Harrington said.  

'Certainly the last Ryder Cup there, there are definitely shots - some of the par-threes changed significantly.'  

Harrington, Paul Casey, Darren Clarke, Sergio Garcia, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood have all returned to Oakland Hills, with David Howell, Thomas Levet and Paul McGinley failing to make the field this week and Luke Donald ruled out with a left wrist injury that could also prevent him from competing in next month's Ryder Cup at Valhalla in Kentucky.  

Westwood will go into the PGA this week on a high following his tied runner-up finish behind Vijay Singh at Firestone Country Club at the weekend in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.  

The Englishman remembers playing a really tough course and is expecting more of the same, particularly as some extra yardage has been added since 2004.  

'I think it's now 300 yards longer,' Westwood said. 'They're not forced to play it right from the tips, but they probably will do.  

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'I think they'll probably set it up equally as tough. It was pretty hard when we played it. I remember if you missed fairways it was difficult to hit greens.

'I remember the greens being very undulating and having to almost slow them down, really, and the ball was rolling around on the ninth green and the 18th green and stuff like that.  

'I think it's a good golf course. I think it'll be very, very demanding.'  

Casey, a Ryder Cup debutant in 2004, is relishing his return to the course.  

'I'm looking forward to it,' he said. 'I love that golf course. I think it's a great golf course. They have made some changes, (Casey's coach) Peter Kostis went over there and played it and gave me a rundown.'  

Poulter, like Casey a Ryder Cup debutant in 2004, said he was keen to discover the alterations made since his last visit.  

'Obviously some tees have been lengthened and some bunkers have been repositioned, and I'll have a look at that when I get there early in the week,' Poulter said.

'But it's a good golf course. I've got good memories around it.  It's very nice to go back. It was one of the most memorable weeks I've ever had and it will be nice to go back to a golf course that I know, that I've played well on, and kind of refresh and rekindle your mind with those good thoughts.'