ONE FOR THE ROAD

Competitive instincts are still so strong as Harrington goes on Tour

MICHAEL SCULLY

PADRAIG HARRINGTON has taken the plunge and begins a new chapter of his sporting life this week.

Harrington turned 50 on August 31, making him eligible for the Champions Tour.

On Friday, he will make his first start when he competes in the inaugural Constellation Furyk and Friends in Florida.

It’s been a whirlwind period for the Dubliner, who captained the European team in their heavy Ryder Cup defeat at Whistling Straits before participating in the Dunhill Links in Scotland last week.

After missing the cut on Saturday, Harrington tweeted: “It was a pity it was only 54 holes but as a ‘good friend’ of mine pointed out it was great preparation for my debut next week on the Champions Tour.”

On the Champions Tour, tournaments are played over 54 holes. It is one of the reasons why Harrington has debated long and hard with himself whether now is the time to dive in, along with the fact that the events are often birdie-fests.

“I’ve seen a few guys go to the Champions Tour and they seem to have a miraculous cure for their putting,” the Stackstown man said last October. “I’m hoping that happens to me.”

On the other hand, he has pointed out that those first five or six years after turning 50 is the prime time to win on the Champions Tour.

Phil Mickelson and this week’s tournament host Jim Furyk both won at the first attempt on the senior tour – and then at the second.

Now Mickelson will tee it up on the

Champions Tour for the first time since February, after winning his sixth major in May – becoming the first player over 50 to win one of golf ’s big four tournaments.

One of the best senior fields ever assembled boasts 38 major titles combined – and it includes US Ryder Cup skipper Steve Stricker.

If Harrington is to win on his debut, it won’t come easy.

But the main reason for his hesitation is his desire to still be competitive on the main Tours.

He admitted last year that he now looked at the Champions Tour results ahead of the main ones – and yet has also made no secret of his aim to break Miguel Angel Jimenez’s record and become the oldest player to win on the European Tour.

Harrington isn’t ruling out a fourth major win either.

“I would play where I think I could win and that’s it,” Harrington said 12 months ago. “If I don’t

think I can win out there, I won’t play.”

However, he recently confessed that he is wary of spreading himself too thin.

“A third tour, the Champions Tour, could even make it worse,” Harrington reflected.

“It’s just hard to compete when you’re not playing as many events as the other guys, and I’m maybe stretching it out too much in each Tour.

“I know if you don’t go to the Champions Tour quickly, you can miss a real window of opportunity.

“But if I’m still competitive on the main Tours, trying to be the oldest guy to win a tournament and I’d still dream about winning a major... if I want to win another major, I have to stick with the young guys and put myself under that pressure and stress week-in, week-out.

“The chance of winning a major is everything. That’s what gives me a buzz.”