Harrington and Dyson seek to rediscover some positive vibes

Harrington has recorded just two top-10 finishes on the European Tour this season – in January and March – and failed to finish in the top 125 on the US Tour to qualify for the lucrative FedEx Cup play-offs.

The three-time major winner has therefore turned his attention back to Europe and after finishing 41st in Switzerland last week, where he failed to build on a second-round 65, the 42-year-old is hoping to challenge for a first victory on a major worldwide tour since his 2008 US PGA triumph.

“Obviously I missed out on the FedEx Cup events and at this time of the year you are looking to play golf and try to find some good form,” said Harrington at Kennemer Golf and Country Club in Zandvoort. “It’s nice to come to two really nice events this week and last week and being not far from home it really does feel nice.

“Everyone will feel comfortable on this course but certainly it will play into my strengths and I am definitely looking forward to a competitive week.

“It’s very linksy tee to green and it’s quite windy and cold as well. The golf course will play well in this weather; if it was a big parkland course it would be miserable, but every shot can be hit in the wind out here. No matter how windy it gets this course will play well.

“There’s been nothing wrong with my game all year expect when I go on the course with a card in my hand. I play quite well Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and I don’t seem to have the intensity on the tournament days.

“It’s there, it’s just figuring how to best get it out of me. That’s part of the game at the moment, trying to figure out the right attitude and the right level of intensity to get the best out of my game.

“It’s just something I’m going to have to manage to figure out, but I’m definitely working at it; I never stop working at this game.”

Simon Dyson is another looking to rediscover the old magic at Zandvoort.

The KLM Open has been a favourite of the 35-year-old Malton professional, who has won the tournament three times in the last seven years, with the first two of those (2006 and 09) coming at Kennemer.

After a slow year he at least returns to Holland having rediscovered some of his old form; Dyson has not finished lower than 28th in his last six tournaments. Hull’s Richard Finch continues his quest to retain his card while Sheffield’s Danny Willett and Harrogate’s John Parry are also in the field.