Padraig Harrington is hoping to maintain momentum at this week's KLM Open after narrowly missing out on European Tour title number 16 two weeks ago in Prague.
The three-time Major Championship winner led by three at the turn at the D+D REAL Czech Masters before Italy's Andrea Pavan came home in 31 to claim his first win and Harrington felt no regrets, admitting Pavan won the event rather than the Irishman losing it.
After a two-week break Harrington is ready to go again and full of confidence that he can claim more victories having just entered his 48th year.
“I was very happy with my form there,” he said. “Two weeks off can be good and bad - it’s nice to have a rest and to get some practice going.
I was very happy with my game all of the way through which was very solid. It does bring confidence - Padraig Harrington
“I was very happy with my game all of the way through which was very solid. It does bring confidence and to do well in tournaments it’s not always about how you are hitting the ball but more how you’re going out and playing in a competitive environment and playing well - it does bring some confidence for the rest of the season.”
Another man to recently miss out is Mike Lorenzo-Vera, who finished two shots out of a play-off at last week's Omega European Masters.
The Frenchman went out in the last group on Sunday with defending and eventual champion Matthew Fitzpatrick, with only a shot into the water on the 18th ending his chances of a maiden European Tour win.
After a play-off loss at the Rocco Forte Sicilian Open earlier in the season, Lorenzo-Vera seems closer then ever to breaking his duck, and much like Harrington he arrives at The Dutch full of confidence.
“The really positive part of last week was the quality of my game on a Sunday when being in the last group - not being totally locked into emotions and pressure,” he said. “I know my swing is better, the work is better and everything is getting better.
“It should be a bit softer here on the greens than last week, making the short game a bit easier but if that’s the case, it will be easier for everyone and I’ll need a high level of short game again.
“It looks like it’s a bit more windy than other years, so I think if we can get to something similar to the winning score last year than we’ll have a great week.”
