The British Open champion Padraig Harrington says that fear was the key to his successful title defence at Royal Birkdale.
The Irishman played a commanding final round to secure a four-shot victory over Britain's Ian Poulter and his second major triumph and claims that fear has always been a motivator in his golf.
Harrington says after winning a major last year, the biggest fear was not to go down the road of guys who have won majors and struggled to keep the intensity after that.
His defence had been in doubt at the start of the week because of an injury to his right wrist but he says he worked with his sports psychologist Bob Rotella to make it such a motivating factor.
The 36-year-old Dubliner says he'd like to say that he has all the trust and faith in his game and will always be nice and relaxed but that's not his make-up and fear pushes him on, keeps him practising and going to the gym.
Harrington has risen to a career-high third in the world rankings and also sealed his Ryder Cup place for September's clash with the United States in Valhalla, Kentucky after moving to the top of the European world points list.
