Padraig Plans for Seventies

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Padraig Harrington believes his best years still lie ahead of him and claims he'll be playing on into his 70's.

The Dubliner is now 41 but claims his passion for the game remains undiminished and believes he is working and training harder than at any point in his career.

Harrington, ranked 59 in the world, ended a two-year wait for a title by winning the Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda last October and is determined to build on that success this term.

"I love playing, I'm fascinated by the game," he stated. "I'm not a guy who can just say no. You are retired for a long time and I tell you what, I'll still be playing competitive golf when I'm 70.

"I have a young attitude, I'm physically stronger than I've ever been and I just love it, love it.

Best to come

"Regardless of what anybody else thinks, I've got to think the best is yet to come - that's what keeps me going, that's what gets me up in the morning."

Harrington will get his season up and running at the Volvo Golf Champions event in South Africa this week and is convinced the effort he has been putting in will be rewarded in 2013.

"Over the last five weeks you'd be hard pressed to find somebody who's done more time, more practice, more anything on their game than I have," he continued.

"If anything I'm still trying to keep a balance on things. I might be doing too much practice, thinking about golf too much, playing too many tournaments.

"I love everything about golf and I'm fascinated by everything about it. Logically I know this isn't going to happen but every day I'm hoping to find the secret to this game."

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Portugal Padraig Wears Special Laces

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Three-time Major Champion and Global Ambassador for Special Olympics, Padraig Harrington, will ‘Wear the Laces’ for Special Olympics during the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura, Portugal, this week.

Harrington has been proudly wearing the Special Olympics emblazoned red shoe laces at recent tournaments in the UK and USA. Harrington wears the laces to show his support for Special Olympics and to highlight the movement’s message of respect, acceptance and inclusion for all people with intellectual disabilities.

Harrington said: “I hope by wearing the Laces for Special Olympics I will not only raise awareness but also show my support for the athletes, families, coaches and volunteers who are the heartbeat of the Special Olympics Movement. I encourage fans of golf everywhere to show their support for the athletes of Special Olympics by also wearing the laces.”

As a Global Ambassador for Special Olympics since May 2010, Harrington has conducted a number of golf clinics for Special Olympics athletes and coaches across the world. 

In July, at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, Harrington was awarded the Eunice Kennedy Shriver 1995 Commemorative Silver Coin in recognition of his work with Special Olympics athletes and his commitment to the organisation.

With over four million athletes in over 170 countries, Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organisation, providing year-round training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. 

Harrington became the first European player to win back-to-back Major Championships when he added the 2008 US PGA Championship to his 2008 Open Championship crown, having been the first Irishman to win a Major in 60 years at The 2007 Open Championship.

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Harrington Receives Special Honour

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Three-time Major Champion, Padraig Harrington has been honoured by Special Olympics – the world’s largest sports organisation for people with intellectual disabilities - at the Castle Stuart Golf Links, Inverness ahead of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, in appreciation of his tireless commitment to Special Olympics athletes and their families. 

Special Olympics Great Britain athlete David Mitchell officially presented Padraig with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver 1995 Commemorative Special Olympics Silver Coin on behalf of the global Special Olympics family in recognition of his dedication to the movement. Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of President John F. Kennedy and Founder of Special Olympics, who was born on this day July 10th 1921, is the only woman to have her portrait appear, during her lifetime, on a US coin. 

Since becoming a Special Olympics Global Ambassador in May 2010, Padraig has generously donated his time and expertise to the Special Olympics Movement across the world by conducting golf clinics for athletes and coaches, most recently at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. 

Padraig also proudly ‘Wears the Laces’ for Special Olympics on the golfing circuit. 

The red shoe laces have recently captured the attention of golf commentators and fans, helping to raise awareness for Special Olympics and promote a message of respect, inclusion and acceptance for all people with intellectual disabilities. Padraig will again ‘Wear the Laces’ this week during the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

Harrington said: “The work that I do for the athletes of Special Olympics is something I am proud of and I will continue to try to help and inspire them to be the best athletes they can be. I am just happy to be able to play a part in the organisation which changes lives every day for people with intellectual disabilities and I am very pleased to have received the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Commemorative Coin today. She made a significant difference to the lives of millions of people across the world.”

Mary Davis, Regional President Special Olympics Europe Eurasia, commented: “Padraig is a remarkable Ambassador for Special Olympics and it is particularly poignant that he receives the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Commemorative Coin today, the date of her birthday. Through Padraig our athletes get the opportunity to meet one of their golfing heroes and learn from him the importance of staying focused and the values of hard work and practice. He inspires the athletes he meets to be the best that they can be and we thank Padraig for his unwavering support and generosity.”