91Èȱ¬

The reigning Open and US PGA Champion begins this stretch here at home of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Harrington might have spent the Saturday before heading to Florida in Cardiff celebrating He had the chance to go to the Millenium Stadium but chose instead to watch the rugby on television at home.

Surely he's the only Irishman who could possibly make such a decision to forego witnessing sporting history for his country - but to have flown to Wales would have interfered with practice and gym work. His choice, in fact, was no surprise at all.

Nor was the compelling media conference he gave on his arrival at Bay Hill.

Believe me these can be exercises of utter tedium as players take it one question at a time - Billy Bland beneath his logo-infested cap discussing not much more than birdies and bogeys.

Thankfully such players are in the minority, but the worst offenders can be at the very top of the game and they are the guys who fail the game when it needs to generate as much interest as it can.

Harrington is the polar opposite as he readily volunteers his theories, anecdotes and quotes.

There was a handful of reporters on hand as he spent the best part of half an hour informing us on subjects that ranged from a new , Ireland's Grand Slam, the magic of Arnie to what is the next step for a three time major winner.

"It's interesting because winning one major, it' becomes significant to win two," Harrington said. "Two to three, yes it's great, but it's not as big a job as one to two and three to four would not be as big a jump as one to two was.

"Maybe the next level that really makes a difference would be starting to hit some of the European records, five and six sort of thing, or maybe it would be winning all four majors."

From this we can deduce the three-time major champion is putting firmly in his sights record of six majors and that he will be targeting the Masters and US Open to complete his major set.

Of course there is the possibility of the Paddy Slam, hence so much hype as he heads to Augusta next month because the Masters would represent the third leg.

"It would be nice to win three majors in a row, but does it make much difference whether I win this one or win in a year's time or two year's time? No, I'm quite patient," Harrington adds.

For Augusta this year you will see a different approach to the Irishman's putting. He first used it at Doral two weeks ago and it involves taking his practice stroke six feet or so behind the ball before addressing the putt.

"It's probably a bit more like Aaron Baddeley's putting routine; he's one of the most successful putters out here.

"It's the same way that I line up my driver. I walk in from behind the ball. I pick out my target and get settled into my target quicker."

Harrington was also asked if there was anything about the way that that would have given away his age.

The answer was no, but once again Harrington was keen to elaborate and offer an added dimension. "A player was practicing behind my back one day (at Birkdale) hitting shots," he volunteered.

"I could see his ball flight coming out and he's the only player I stopped the whole week and I turned around to watch him hit the golf ball.

"It was Tom Watson. I've never seen a golf ball hit like that in the wind. It was unbelievable how well he hit the ball beside me.

"I had to stand back and pretend I was cleaning a club and have a little bit of a look. And Greg was very much like that in the final round. There was nothing to tell he wasn't a young man."

Soon after the moderator called an end to proceedings because Harrington had another appointment, a teleconference to discuss his Masters prospects.

But he wasn't done with us. "I have one more thing to say actually," he interjected and it was about this week's tournament host.

Harrington launched into a story about what happened when he was in a bar in Miami a fortnight ago. "A guy came up and ordered an 'Arnold Palmer' and the barman knew what that drink was.

"Now that's getting to another level. Think about it, you don't go up there and order a Tiger Woods at the bar.

"That's in a league of your own. I thought maybe you could do it in a golf club, but he's ordered it in a random bar and the barman probably didn't know one end of a golf club from the other but he knew what the drink was."

It's an Iced Tea by the way.

More significant is the story - the fact that in days gone by force of personality and weight of charisma could enable a golfer could make an impact on society in general.

As Harrington acknowledged there will never be another Arnold Palmer, but this Irishman's engaging nature helps make a welcome impact of its own and it's just what the modern game needs at the moment.