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Erratic form good for McIlroy, says Harrington

Rory McIlroy is back home for the Irish Open this week © Getty Images

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• Profile: Padraig Harrington | Rory McIlroy

Padraig Harrington believes "consistency is over-rated" for Rory McIlroy, saying the Northern Irishman should not worry about his recent poor run of underwhelming results.

Harrington, who has three major titles to McIlroy's two, believes the Northern Irishman is always going to experience peaks and troughs with his form - with such changes in performance a by-product of his natural talent.

But the two-time Open champion does not believe searching for consistency is something McIlroy should prioritise, as long as he can find ways to make sure his best form returns in time for the biggest events in the golfing calendar.

"When he plays well it's genius and that is what he wants," Harrington said. "He wants to be erratic in his game to be honest.

"Consistency is over-rated, especially when you have achieved at the top end of the game."

European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley echoed Harrington's comments - suggesting that the 24-year-old is never going to be one to reel off top-five and top-ten finishes for weeks or months on end.

"There's going to be ups, there's going to be downs. That's just his DNA, that's how he is. That is what he is going to be," McGinley told Sky Sports News. "[Six-time major winner] Nick Faldo was very much a flatliner. If he wasn't winning he was in the top five and, if he wasn't in the top five, he was in the top 10. He never missed cuts, he never seemed to miss a beat.

"Whereas Rory is different, Rory is going to be up and down, that's what makes him so exciting."

McIlroy is the star of the field at this year Irish Open, which begins at Carton House on Thursday.

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