Pádraig Harrington will carry around the title of ‘Rookie of the Year’ for the next twelve months after claiming that accolade after a stellar year on the Champions Tour that included a US Senior Open win, but when it comes to mixing it with the young guns he hopes there’s life in the old dog as he looks to become the oldest winner on the DP World Tour.
That record has stood for just over eight years after Miguel Ángel Jimenez secured victory at the Open de Espana in 2014 at 50 years and 133 days old.
Harrington has enjoyed widespread success on the senior circuit but has always been bullish about his chances of winning on the main tours for the first time since the 2016 Portugal Masters.
“I always say people ask me what do I want to do in golf and I said there’s not a lot that adds to my CV,” said Harrington ahead of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links.
“There’s not a lot I can do. Winning a tournament, does it make a difference? I’ve won 35 tournaments, I’ve won three majors so you’re kind of looking for something you might put at the top of the list.
“I think Miguel Ángel Jimenez is the oldest winner on the DP World Tour and he was pretty damn good to do it. I think that’s something that sets you apart and it would be a nice thing to do.”
The Dubliner is making his 467th start on the DP World Tour and while he is eyeing up a milestone 500th appearance in the future, he hopes he will have added some more silverware to what has been a trophy-laden career.
“I’m not going to play too many more events, if somebody was asking me I think I’ve got like 460 something events so I’ll definitely get to 500 at some stage so it’s not a lot of events but hopefully I do get myself in contention and if I do get myself in contention I know I still have it when it comes down the stretch and I can scare a few of these guys!”
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