The Dubliner revealed that his main focus over the next two years is securing a place on the Irish team for Rio and is targeting a spot in the world's top-15 when the line-up for the Games is decided in July 2016.

"I don't normally tell you my goals but my aim is top-15 in the world by 2016 for the Olympics," Harrington said.

"That's where I'm focused and I've got two years to do that."

To fulfil his ambition, Harrington will need to embark on a mammoth scaling of the world rankings as he currently sits at number 324 in the world.

The 43-year-old was as high as number three in 2008 during a run of success that saw him win back-to-back Open Championships in 2007 and 2008 followed by victory at the 2008 US PGA Championship at Oakland Hills.

That win in Michigan was the Irishman's last win on the US PGA Tour or European Tour, while his last tournament win of any sort came in 2010 at the Iskander Johor Open in Malaysia on the Asian Tour.

Harrington was flying high in 2008 winning both the Open Championship and US PGA Championship ©Getty Images



Since then, Harrington has struggled for form and has tumbled down the world rankings, but he remains bullish that a return to form is on the cards with a change of putter instilling a new confidence on the greens.

"Since I put a new Wilson putter in the bag I've been so much better, so much more comfortable, so much more relaxed on the greens," said Harrington, one of compatriot Paul McGinley's vice-captains during Europe's successful defence of the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles last weekend.

"It's pretty awesome at present.

"It makes no difference where I am in the world now because I've got 21 months of results counting from here on.

"So I'm starting at zero and working my way up.

"I'd just love to be an Olympic athlete, it would be very special.

"And also, if I make it into the world's top-15 I'll have done other things that are quite good, so it's not like it doesn't have its other rewards.

"But the Olympics is where the focus will be."

World number one Rory McIlroy is set to lead the Irish challenge at Rio 2016 ©Getty Images



The field for Rio 2016 will be determined using the world rankings, with the top-15 players in both the men's and women's rankings as of July 11, 2016 qualifying automatically, with a limit of four players from one country.

Outside the top-15, players will be eligible based on the world rankings, with a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top-15.

The men's and women's fields for the event are set to include 60 players each.

On current form, Harrington's main challengers for a spot on the Irish men's team would be Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry.

Four-time major winner and current world number one Rory McIlroy looks to be almost a cert to make the team after finally declaring that he would represent Ireland at the Olympics back in June.

Both McIlroy and world number 18 McDowell come from Northern Ireland and would be eligible to represent Great Britain, but both have plumped for Ireland after representing the Golfing Union of Ireland at two World Cups.

Lowry, meanwhile, hails from County Offaly in the Republic of Ireland and is currently ranked as the 55th best player in the world.

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