Harrington hatching new Open plan
Padraig Harrington won’t be warming up for The Open at St Andrews with a fourth successive appearance in the Irish PGA.
Instead the Dubliner is toying with the idea putting on his own private event for around 20 close friends or teeing it up in the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond for the first time since 1999.
Speaking before the Players at Sawgrass, where he confirmed that he is also thinking of playing the Celtic Manor Wales Open two weeks before next month’s US Open, Harrington said: “I play the JP McManus Pro-Am that week and I would have found it a struggle to play a second pro-am later in the week.
“But don’t worry, I will play something that week. I will host my own event if I have to. Or I could go to Loch Lomond. All I need is competition.
“Competing is the main thing for me and it is all about competing at the end of the week. Maybe I will feel good enough after the Pro-Am (in Adare) that I have got enough competition in.
“The Barclays Scottish Open (at Loch Lomond) is a strong possibility but I am just not sure. Having played the JP McManus Pro-Am in previous years I know that it does take a little bit out of you and maybe it is not the right thing to have a long week afterwards. But I will wait for the next couple of weeks to see how I feel about that.
“I might have a little event for my close friends. I wouldn’t be averse to doing something like that. If it came down to that, it might be a 36-hole or 54-hole event for 20 pros.
“I’m sure we could find 20 pros to tee it up and some of the top amateurs just to make it competitive. I’m not sure what I am going to do but certainly that is in the mix.”
The Irish Region of the PGA wanted to hold its championship at The Island from July 8-10 - sandwiching it between the JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am and the following week’s Open.
But Harrington’s failure to commit to the event at an early stage meant that the Irish Region lost The Island as a potential venue and the Irish Championship is now likely to be played in the Dublin area from September 23-26, clashing with the US Tour Championship in Atlanta.
Michael McCumiskey, secretary of the PGA Irish Region, said: “Padraig couldn’t commit to the week before the Open and I had to move to other options. Padraig has given us great support and what he has done for the Irish Championship is etched in history. I am sure he will be back.”
Harrington won the Irish PGA in 1998, 2004 and 2005 and used the event as a warm up for his Open victories at Carnoustie and Royal Birkdale when he triumphed at The European Club in 2007 and 2008.
He completed a hat-trick of Irish PGA wins at the European Club last year but failed to to make it a double-triple when he finish tied 65th in the Open at Turnberry.
It was also announced at Sawgrass that he is becoming a global ambassador for the Special Olympics.
Mary Davis, Managing Director for Special Olympics Europe and Eurasia, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that Padraig has agreed to be a special ambassador for Special Olympics worldwide. It is just fantastic to see the Special Olympics logo on your shirt.”
Harrington won the Irish PGA in 1998, 2004 and 2005 and used the event as a warm up for his Open victories when he triumphed at the European Club in 2007 and 2008.
He completed a hat-trick of Irish PGA wins at the European Club last year but failed to to make it a double-triple when he finish tied 65th in the Open at Turnberry.
Harrington also announced at Sawgrass that he is becoming a global ambassador for the Special Olympics.
Mary Davis, Managing Director for Special Olympics Europe and Eurasia, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that Padraig has agreed to be a special ambassador for Special Olympics worldwide. It is just fantastic to see the Special Olympics logo on your shirt.”