In a world where the top male professional golfers are hungry to play less, Pádraig Harrington is set to compete in eight consecutive events as he eyes up a blockbuster summer that includes two senior majors, the US Open and Open Championship.
Rory McIlroy has caused a stir on the PGA Tour by choosing a very selective schedule. One would think that a man of 54-years-of age would be prioritising rest and recovery between events but Harrington’s endless appetite for competition will see him battle it out across multiple tours and countries.
Ahead of his first regular PGA Tour appearance in over a year at the RBC Canadian Open this week, Harrington admits he is encouraged by the state of his game heading to Shinnecock Hills and Royal Birkdale after a top-20 finish at the PGA Championship where he ended with an eagle, par and a birdie.
“The finish was enjoyable and exciting but I played way better, I could have been several shots better going into the last few holes,” said the three-time major champion.
“I had driven it really poorly for the first three days and played better on the last day, I putted well, I was still below average against the field but I rolled the ball better and saw a lot of good things, short game was good.
“It’s easy for me to be competitive on a tough golf course, if they are going to shoot 30-under-par it will be a struggle. I definitely think on a tough golf course I can be competitive. I do not think 18th at the PGA was my best performance, I have more in me but it was encouraging. I was encouraged as well by looking forward to hitting a putt on the greens and I hadn’t had that feeling in a long time.”
Last week, McIlroy hoped that the greens at Shinnecock Hills wouldn’t get out of hand like they did in 2004 and 2018 which saw some bizarre scenes. Harrington is excited for what that challenge may produce as he faces into various course set ups and tests across his eight week adventure that will conclude at the PGA Tour Champions first ever event in Europe as Ernie Els hosts the cream of the crop in Portugal.
“I have eight events in a row, I don’t think too many people are doing eight events in a row. Just a lot of good events, I am delighted to be playing in Canada next week, nice to get a PGA Tour event in before the US Open. I like to play the week before a major.
“Looking forward to Shinnecock, there’s a lot of players who have played in the last two US Open’s there who have ended up headless. That one can be right on the limit of what players want for sure. A great venue and great course.
“The US Senior Open is going to be a really nice venue, should suit me from what I hear. Then the Open, Royal Birkdale is a big strong golf course. The R&A have really got their act together for a long number of years now where they are comfortable with just putting us on the golf course. If it’s tough because the weather is tough or if it’s easy because the weather is easy so be it. Yeah guys this is the golf course, this is the weather, go and play so they won’t trick it up.
“Then I have the Senior Open in Gleneagles, I came very close when Darren Clarke won there then the last one is Ernie Els’ event in Portugal. You don’t say no to Ernie Els!”
Harrington will be joined at the RBC Canadian Open by Shane Lowry and Seamus Power before he links up with McIlroy, Lowry and Graeme McDowell at the US Open next week.
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