Pádraig Harrington is excited to be announced as a Hall of Fame golfer on the first tee this week when he makes his first appearance on the Champions Tour since his induction ceremony last week.
Harrington is chasing a hat trick of wins at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open as he looks to return to normality after a week of celebrations.
“I’ve had too much rest. I wish I played a bit more, as I said. But I think as regards that, it’s nice to be in there and be fully on the first tee “Hall of Fame Padraig Harrington.” Kind of half and half been saying it for the last 18 months, mentioning it some tournaments, some tournaments not, but it’s official now. I’ll enjoy that on the first tee this week when it’s announced that way.
“As I said, when you’re out here, a lot of these guys which I would have come out, they’re slightly older than me. When I would have started out as an amateur, they were the guys that I looked up to. Now that I’m out here with them, I want to be in with them, included with them and being in the Hall of Fame certainly gives me a lot of satisfaction and validation to what I’ve done in my career.”
The three-time major winner hasn’t played competitively for almost four weeks and he hopes to shake off the rust in time for Friday’s opening tee shot as he chases a first tournament hat trick of his career.
“That would be something special. Sometimes you get to keep the trophy. I’m hoping to get a Dick’s store for winning three in a row, maybe the franchise in Ireland.
“Yeah, golf course is very similar. Obviously the rough seems a little bit heavier, which would suit me. It’s warm this week. My own game, I haven’t been on a course for three and a half weeks. I played yesterday, it was a little bit ropey. Hopefully another game today, hopefully it settles down and my head’s in the right place tomorrow.”