British Open champion Padraig Harrington said on Monday that fear was the key to his successful title defence at Royal Birkdale.The Irishman played a commanding final round on Sunday to secure a four-shot victory over Britain’s Ian Poulter and his second major triumph. “Fear has always been a motivator in my golf,” Harrington told a news conference. “I think 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.”Harrington, whose defence had been in doubt at the start of the week because of an injury to his right wrist, said he had worked with his sports psychologist Bob Rotella to make it such a motivating factor. “I’ve spent some time talking to Bob Rotella about it (fear) because it can be quite a negative emotion to use to push you on. “Fear is a big part of me. I’d like to say that I have all the trust and faith (in my game) and be nice and relaxed but that’s not my make-up.“Fear pushes me on, keeps me practising. I have to work with it and use it.”The 36-year-old Dubliner, who has risen to a career-high third in the world rankings, 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.“When I was eating my porridge this morning I had the computer on, checking who’s doing what in the Ryder Cup standings and it was great to know that I’m in,” he said. “I’ll now be checking to see all those on the bubble. The Ryder Cup’s very entertaining when you’re on the team. It’s a tough process, so now that I’m there I can look over the next month and a half and see the guys play their hearts out to try and make it.”
