Golf Events / Editor / 12 June 2007 /

Padraig Harrington says he is full of confidence heading into the US Open at Oakmont, starting on Thursday, and reckons level-par will be good enough to win

Although most people remember both Phil Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie collapsing on the last hole at Winged Foot last year to gift Geoff Ogilvy his first Major at five-over, Harrington himself had been in contention only to throw it away.

The world number ten was +4 after fifteen on the last day, but then bogeyed each of the last three holes to see the championship slip away.

However, the Ryder Cup star insists that the events of last year, as well as his performance at the Masters in April, have shown he can compete with the best.

"I got a lot of confidence from the US Open last year," Harrington told PA Sport. "Not only was I in contention, not only did I have three pars to win but I felt really good. And that's the main thing. I felt good in that position, I felt very comfortable.

"It was the same as the Masters this year so that says to me I could hit all the shots that were required at Augusta, I could hit all the shots that were required at Winged Foot.

"Other years I'd come away thinking I'd better go home and practice this, that or the other, I'm not good enough. I realise I can still get a lot better and I obviously still need to get the breaks to win a major but I'm capable of doing it."

Harrington though is predicting a tough test at the Oakmont Country Club and that no-one will shoot under-par.

"Unless they do something with the greens and make them softer, which they're not gonna do, unless they make the pin positions easier I can't see anybody shooting under par," Harrington told Sky Sports News.

"I think level par would be a fine achievement this week and if you were offered it on Thursday, you'd be the unluckiest guy if you didn't win the US Open with level par."

With Tiger Woods a strong favourite at 4.4, Harrington is currently available at 34 in the outright winner market, while he is the 'Top European' market leader at 6.8 and on offer at 8.2 to finish in the top five.

Harrington will tee up alongside Ernie Els and Zach Johnson on Thursday morning and is trading at 2.72 to come out on top in their first round three ball. South African Els is a marginal favourite at 2.66, while Masters champion Johnson can be backed at 3.1.

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