Padraig off to a flyer
After finishing fourth in Memphis on Sunday, Padraig Harrington travelled to San Diego for the US Open by private jet
HERE'S a couple of questions to turn the average airline passenger green with envy. How much would you give to skip check-in queues or stripping semi-naked for security?
That's right, absolutely none of that laptop out, false teeth in, whoops, forgot to retrieve my trouser belt, nonsense ... and the only time you take your shoes off is at 20,000 feet.
And have you ever ambled straight from your car seat to the steps of a plane? When was the last time the pilot came bounding out to help carry your luggage on board?
There are many ways to get to golf's Major Championships, but private jet has to be the best.
Padraig Harrington offered your correspondent a lift to the US Open on Sunday, and the 1,700-mile journey from Memphis to San Diego took around four blissfully comfortable hours on an 11-seat Gulfstream II.
The British Open champ hired the jet to ferry the nine members of 'Team Harrington', from his mother Breda down to his infant son Ciaran.
Judging by prices quoted on the internet, he wouldn't get much change from €25,000, but what he saved in stress, as they say in advert land, was priceless.
And little more than five hours after signing off on his closing round 68 and collecting a cheque for $236,250 in a tie for fourth at the Stanford St Jude Championship, Harrington was able to read his two boys a bedtime story in San Diego.
The dash from Southwind's 18th green to take-off left just enough time for caddie Ronan Flood to scoop up an armful fast food on the way to the airport. So, we ate happily as our jet soared into the wide, blue yonder, with Harry Potter, a favourite of Paddy Junior, playing on the aircraft's DVD system.
Once cruising, we gambolled about the cabin at will. Up front, pilots Jason and James steered a smooth course around a massive storm front, while stewardess Mona ensured my glass was constantly topped-up ... with Diet Coke.
Repetitive
There's a serious upside to all this for Harrington, especially in the run-up to the US Open, a relentlessly, repetitive 72-hole test which ranks as the most mentally exacting of all four Majors.
It underpins Harrington's attention to detail that he even wears a special, skin-tight 'compression suit' beneath his jeans and T-shirt during flights to help stave off the effects of jetlag. The suit was prescribed by fitness consultant Dr Liam Hennessy.
Though he didn't have to grapple with the kids in the tight confines of the aircraft, Harrington wrestled with his thoughts after missing a place in Sunday's three man play-off -- Justin Leonard beat Trevor Immelman and Robert Allenby.
"It's disappointing," said Harrington. "Especially in view of the Ryder Cup. Finishing in a tie for fourth does me no good in that respect."
Harrington climbed two places back to 12th in the world rankings, but still is three places outside of automatic selection for Valhalla.
"Yet it's always great to feel nervous playing the last, as I did today. That's what we play for, getting ourselves into contention and feeling that buzz.
"Even if the result wasn't great, I'm happy with my form. I have all year. To be honest, I don't want to play any different at Torrey Pines, just putt a little better."
Whatever about Harrington, your correspondent got US Open week off to a flying start, though readjusting to Ryanair will be tough.
- Karl MacGinty
