Should Padraig Harrington ever feel like swapping his clubs for a new career, he could always try marketing. The Irishman has certainly done a good job of selling the 73rd Masters, which was getting under way today.

“Tiger Woods is back playing,” he said, spotlighting the presence at Augusta National of the world No1 who confirmed a complete recovery from knee surgery by winning Arnold Palmer's tournament a fortnight ago.

“Phil Mickelson is obviously playing great golf,” said Harrington, referring to the American who has triumphed in two of his last four tour events.
“You've got Rory McIlroy taking a lot of attention.” McIlroy is the 19-year-old sensation from Northern Ireland who many believe could cap his Masters debut by becoming the youngest winner of a Green Jacket.

Continuing his sales pitch, the Open Champion pointed out: “You've got Retief Goosen back in form.” Corrective laser surgery to an eye and a new fitness regime last month enabled the South African to end a four-year run without a win in the United States.

Harrington smiled as he admitted: “All this is helping take a little bit of attention away from me.”

The Dubliner is well aware he is also one of the biggest stories in town, and the talk is of the Paddy Slam' — successive victories in all four majors.

He is halfway there, having retained the Open at Royal Birkdale and gone on to win the US PGA Championship at Oakland Hills the following month.

Finishing top of the leaderboard on Sunday would make Harrington only the third player to claim three majors in a row after Woods in the US PGA at Valhalla in 2000 and Ben Hogan at the Carnoustie Open in 1953. With such a momentous prospect in store, the 37-year-old conceded:
“I was never going to be able to come in under the radar.”

But Harrington has been working hard to remain a small blip on the screen by deflecting attempts to build up a rivalry between himself and Woods, who missed those last two majors due to his injury.

The European Ryder Cup star insisted: “I can't be a rival for Tiger because, in the end, I'm always fighting with myself. I don't really have a rival in that sense. I'm totally focused on trying to get the best performance out of me and trying to improve my performance.

“I don't believe in trying to compete against one individual. I could have turned up this week and said I want to beat Tiger Woods'.

“Well maybe I'll beat him by a shot and he finishes 20th and I finish 19th. That's not much good to either of us. Tiger, when you get to the bigger stage, is the top dog and he deserves the attention with what he's done. Coming back from injury, it's a fantastic story.

“But I've got three majors, that's a dream come true for me and I'm fully concentrating on what I'm doing in my career. The outside stuff I can't control, so I'm not too fussed about it.”

What Harrington has been fussed about is his form. He has gone seven tournaments without a top-10 finish in the United States, and in last week's Houston Open he was so wayward he lost eight balls in the water.

Ominously, he went through five different drivers on the practice range at Augusta, finally settling on the big club he had in his bag when finishing seventh there in 2007.

Harrington said: “When I come out at the start of the year I tend to be mixed-up and complicated from the work I've done during the winter.
“This year is not hugely different from any other years, except maybe I dragged it a couple more weeks into the season than I should have, so I did struggle to find form earlier on.”

This is Harrington's 10th Masters and of Augusta he said: “It is the toughest test in terms of the variety of shots you're required to hit during the week.”

So what hope does McIlroy have of emulating Woods' spectacular Masters triumph of 1997, when the emerging superstar won his first major?
Harrington cut through the hype surrounding
McIlroy to offer an honest assessment of his chances not only of beating Wood's record of being the youngest Masters champion at 21, but also of becoming the first debutant to win since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

Harrington said: “I think when you first come here you're overawed about the place, as well as the golf course.

“To be honest, your first year is lost because of that. It's hard to get your head around everything, you do tend to be a little bit rushed and it's a course you have to play on numerous occasions to become familiar with it.”

But that was enough about the young upstart. Harrington is so focused on his own challenge and it's possible repercussions that he has even given thought to what he might serve at next year's Masters champions' dinner, traditionally hosted by the defending title holder.

He said: “I also have to give a dinner at the US PGA this year. We're going to start with smoked salmon sandwiches on brown bread, and then have Steak and Guinness pie. If that goes down well, I'd repeat that at Augusta should I win. And if I play right, it will be possible for me to win.”