PADRAIG HARRINGTON has revealed how his career was “broken” by Rory McIlroy.
The three-time major winner went into the 2011 US Open brimming with confidence as one of the favourites.
But Harrington ended up being blown away by a then-21-year-old McIlroy’s record breaking performance.
The Northern Irishman clinched his first major by finishing on a staggering 16 under par with the lowest 72-hole score in tournament history.
McIlroy‘s next level display left Harrington worrying that his time at the top was over.
He told the Cookie Jar Golf Podcast: “Rory broke me in 2011.
“He broke everyone but forget that. I was the best player – that’s what I believed.
“I’ve gone into Congressional, I played a practice round with Adam on Wednesday and he has then done an interview and told everybody to go home.
“He says, ‘you might as well all go home because Padraig Harrington is winning it’.
“I am in my head the best player. I have won three majors recently and I am in great form. I prepared right.
“I go into this tournament and Rory does something that I can’t compete with.
“Wipes the floor with everyone. We are all the same. He’s just blown us all away.
[authenticated-scripts src=”%3Cscript%20class%3D%22palin-poll%22%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesun.co.uk%2Fpollingwidgets%2Fv3%2Fwidget.js%3Fquestion_id%3D108020%26game%3Dpolling%22%3E%3C%2Fscript%3E” type=”embedded” width=”100″ /] [bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Rory McIlroy reveals his favourite ever club but admits it’s ‘probably illegal now'” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6368874275112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]“That’s OK if I thought I could get better, that’s fine. When Tiger Woods was doing that in the early 2000s, I was only on my way up.
“This is me at my best and I don’t think I can compete with him.
“You name every player who has hit a peak. 2008, I was not looking over my shoulder, I was only concerned about me.
“2011 onwards, I’m now thinking I’m not good enough.”
Harrington added on social media: “It fits the mould for nearly all golfers.
“They believe they have all the game to win, then a new kid arrives and they feel they have to be a different version of themselves to win now. Tiger did this to so many in the late 90s.”
McIlroy has gone on to win four major titles, with his last coming in 2014.