Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington desperately needs this week off to rest up for the Ryder Cup.
The Irishman has complained of fatigue in the past after trying to keep himself, sponsors and tournament organisers happy with an often punishing schedule.
Since winning the Open for the first time at Carnoustie last year Harrington has tried to lessen the demands he puts on himself but his efforts in securing back-to-back major victories by retaining the Claret Jug and then winning the US PGA have taken their toll.
Now after a long spell in the United States, having stayed on for the FedEx Cup events, he has returned to his Dublin home for a much-needed break.
But with Ryder Cup week beginning next Monday even Harrington does now know if it is enough time time to recharge his batteries.
"I hope so. There's no other choice," he said on his decision to go home having competed in the BMW Championship in St Louis which finished on Sunday.
Spaniard Sergio Garcia, the other member of the European team to play at the BMW Championship, will remain in the United States in an effort to avoid jetlag but it was less of a decision for him as he is based mainly in America.
Harrington's form the last three weeks has been mediocre, which is not entirely unexpected considering the mental energy he exerted to win the Open and PGA Championship in the space of three weeks before that.
He missed the cut at the first two events of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup play-off series before finishing equal 55th at Bellerive, where there was no cut.
European captain Nick Faldo will dearly hope a week at home will be enough to freshen up the man who will spearhead the European challenge in Kentucky next week.
"Six weeks here, I'm tired," Harrington said of his American travels.
"I'm looking forward to going home. I hoped I could come into the FedEx Cup and perform, but in hindsight it was a step too far."
Harrington believes the American team will be the one under far greater pressure at Valhalla, after losing the past three contests.
"There is probably not as much at stake for the European team as the US team," he said.
"For [the good of] the Ryder Cup, it needs to be a tight match, but I think the US team need to win now.
"Every team is always looking to play the underdog card and motivate themselves that way.
"Europe has a tradition of being the country cousins of the US tour and has a point to prove, but the US can obviously play it up a bit this time around and use that to motivate themselves."
Harrington does not buy the speculation the Americans will be better off without the injured Tiger Woods, whose Ryder Cup record - 10 wins, 13 losses and two halves - is mediocre compared to his individual resume, although he has only once lost in the singles.
"There is no way you could say (the American team) is not weaker without him," he continued.
"That would be silly. We've got to have more chance without him in the team.
"I would have said it was great to have one guy on the team who could take on all the stress of the week and everybody else could go under the radar. Obviously other players have got to step up now."
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