Padraig Harrington at 2010 Transitions Championship
Padraig Harrington last year finished his opening round at the Transitions Championship by holing out a bunker shot for birdie on the 18th hole, to sign for a 69, after which he happily shared memories of his first trip to the White House and a St. Patrick's Day celebration with President Barack Obama.
A year ago that trip to the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook was also a first and despite a practice round earlier in the week, his lack of knowledge showed at times. In the end he secured a top ten finish and returns this week to the event, unlike many of the game’s other big names who are taking this week off, hoping to build on the form shown last week at Doral.
In Palm Harbor, Florida, the Dubliner is accompanied by his fitness trainer, Dr. Liam Hennessy, where he he will continue to work on his game changes ahead of the Masters next month.
Following the Cadillac Championship, which featured all of the top 50 players in the world, the Transitions only boasts two of the world’s top ten players but still has plenty of players to make it a competitive and interesting week with a strong international flavour - including Martin Kaymer, Matteo Manassero, Sergio Garcia, Ryo Ishikawa and KJ Choi - amongst others.
The course they play this week is known as Copperhead and is part of a 72 hole complex at the Innisbrook Resort. It is long at over 7300 yards for a par 71 layout and tight. Long, accurate drives will be at a premium to put a player in position to have reasonable iron shots into many of the longer par 4 holes.
Paul Casey, who attended Arizona State, has known success on both the PGA TOUR and European Tour. In 2009, he won the Shell Houston Open and owns 11 victories in Europe. The 2006 European Tour Player of the Year has risen as high to Number 3 in the Official World Golf Rankings and has consistently ranked in the top 10 for the last several years.
Earlier this year, he won the Volvo Golf Champions event by one shot over Peter Hanson, also a recent addition to the Transitions Championship field, in Bahrain.This will be Casey’s second appearance on the Copperhead, having played in the 2008 event.
