“Augusta tests your mental fortitude more than any other golf course”

Three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington talks us through the challenges facing those teeing it up at The Masters in November

- David Taylor

Padraig Harrington may be remembered for his exploits at The Open and his win at the USPGA, but the Irishman has a pretty decent record at Augusta too. He competed on 15 occasions between 2000 and 2015 and registered four top-tens, finishing joint fifth in both 2002 and 2008. But it was in 2007 when he says he came closest to glory. He attacked the pin with his second shot on the 15th in an attempt to find an eagle and put pressure on eventual winner Zach Johnson. His ball found the green but rolled back into the water. With that, his hopes were gone – something that still irritates him to this day.

Here, the Irishman tells us about that close encounter and recalls some of the other memories that stick out from playing and watching the iconic tournament. He also talks us through the skills needed to triumph at The Masters and reveals who he'll be keeping an eye on this year...

What skills does it take to compete and ultimately win at Augusta?

It’s interesting because Augusta has changed over the years. The difficulty of the pin positions means it’s become a real driver’s golf course. You’ve got to drive it long and straight at Augusta. The fairways are narrow, but it’s not difficult off the tee in terms of missing a fairway and being out of bounds or in the water, you’re just in the tree line. But to have short enough irons into those pin positions on the par 4s, you have to drive it long and you have to drive it straight.

The short game is so difficult. Sometimes a good chipper can only chip it to 15 feet while a bad chipper can chip it to 20 feet, so it’s actually got to the stage where it’s a ball-striker’s course. You’ve got to be relentless off the tee, the longer the better.