Harrington: In my world, I believe I can win

Having turned 50 last August, now officially a fixture on the Champions Tour, Padraig Harrington is back playing the Masters for the first time in seven years.

The three-time major winner qualified for the 2022 Masters by virtue of his surprise fourth-placed finish at the PGA Championship in Kiawah Island, that May weekend in South Carolina very much a golden one for the game's elder statesmen with Phil Mickelson becoming the oldest ever major winner at 50.

Harrington acknowledged the inspirational impact of witnessing Mickelson scoop a major in his sixth decade - but stressed that even if there was no precedent, he'd still be inclined to believe he could be the one to make history.

"In my world, I believe I can win," Harrington told RTÉ Sport this week.

"I'm trying to prepare for Thursday with the attitude that it's going to be a long week. And that I can get myself in position on Sunday where I have a chance of winning this tournament.

"Finishing fourth (at Kiawah Island) was good for me. There's probably something in the back of my head after seeing a 50-year-old win. But I'd like to buck the trend anyway. If a 50-year-old hadn't won, I'd like to be the one to do it. I'm quite contrarian like that, that I want to be the odd one and do it. I'm motivated. I like what I do, I'm clear. I'm here, it's serious. It's business."

Harrington arrives in Georgia in the wake of a strong showing on the Champions Tour - he finished tied-second in the Rapiscan Systems Classic in Mississippi on Sunday.

Always quick to stress the importance of the mental side of the game, Harrington says he has no trouble visualising himself collecting the green jacket on Sunday evening.

"Of course, I could imagine it. There's no doubt I can imagine it. In my