Harrington hoping he can win the Woods way

Without mentioning his name, the gap between Tiger Woods and the rest was simply summarised by Padraig Harrington. "It's a different talent to win a tournament and to win a tournament you want to win," the Irishman said. "It's a totally different level of ability."

Harrington was trying to explain the dearth of home winners in the Irish Open, with this year's starting today. Victories happen, Harrington was saying, but making them happen was another matter. In the end he could not avoid talking about the Masters and US Open champion. "Tiger Woods has the talent that he can turn up at majors and perform."

The longer Harrington talked – once he has warmed to a theme he does not like to let go – the more he confirmed the problem about playing on home soil, namely the endless chatting to family, friends and media. "It is all about budgeting your time," he said.

"There are more distractions. For an Irishman, the Irish Open is close to being a major. It is like a major in that you have to bring your game to the tournament. You do not have time to do everything on the practice range or in the gym that you might do at another tournament. I've learned it is better to do less and not rush than to try to do everything you want to do but rush from one to the next. I'm not greedy, though, I only need to win this tournament once."

Harrington finished joint second with Darren Clarke to Colin Montgomerie a year ago at Fota Island. Clarke then won the European Open the following week, becoming the first Irishman to win a European Tour event on home since John O'Leary won the Irish Open in 1982. "It was a huge win for me, to win at home," Clarke said. "I would certainly like to win the Irish Open as well."

The Celtic Swing, as this week and next are known in these parts, is followed by the Scottish Open and the Open Championship at Muirfield. "These are three big tournaments on good courses running up to the Open," said Montgomerie, who has not won for 11 months, his longest victory drought for nine years.

"I don't feel any great urge where I must win, or have to win to save my career," added the Scot, who missed the cut in the US Open. But he was more animated with the news that he could return to the top of the order of merit with a win here. "That's always nice. If I won it this year after a gap of a couple of years it would almost mean more than the seven titles in the 90s." After almost two months off, Seve Ballesteros returns to action and his latest rebirth is being helped by a gynaecologist. Paul Hughes, a single-handicap player at the Fota club, was selected to caddie for the Spaniard after Seve's former bagman sought alternative employment during his rest and recuperation following his exertions in the Seve Trophy at Druids Glen. Hughes promptly crashed his car on Tuesday evening but survived unscathed, for now.

* Sergio Garcia made a three-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole worth seven skins and $160,000 (£110,000) and went on to win the Telus Skins Game in Huntsville, Ontario, late on Tuesday. Garcia, who won no skins in Monday's first nine holes, added another $25,000 with the final skin on the second play-off hole.

"I had a couple of holes when I played bad shots and then on 16, when everybody looked like they were struggling, I hit two great shots," Garcia said.

Vijay Singh was second with five skins worth $90,000. Garcia added: "You have to play well but you have to be lucky. You have to make the birdie when nobody else does."