Pádraig Harrington has often spoken about how much he enjoys the more relaxed atmosphere on the Champions Tour but he insists the old dogs can still bite on a senior circuit that he believes to be the most ruthless in the world.
The Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs get underway today as 72 players bid to lift the Schwab Cup. After two events the top-36 will advance to the Charles Schwab Cup and in doing so will retain their full playing privileges for next season. Those who don’t will be left wondering where to turn next, with retirement a distinct possibility for most.
Speaking ahead of the Dominion Energy Charity Classic, the first of the three playoff events, Harrington (53) believes the Champions Tour’s perceived relaxed nature masks its brutality as the hardest tour to keep your playing card on.
“This has got to be, we are in the playoffs and I’m only on the tour a few years and I’m only starting to realise that this must be the hardest, tightest tour to keep your card on in the world,” said Harrington who qualified for the 72-player field this week in 10th place as he eyes a maiden Schwab Cup title.
“Thirty six guys keep their card and even if you win you only get a one-year exemption. We are seeing it, I’ve seen my friends and people I am playing with have a good year and then the following year just play average and they’re gone and some will never get a second chance.
“This is really cut throat. It’s really, really tight. It doesn’t take much for you to drop out of that 36 so that’s why you see the guys out here practicing. If you are not one of the guys out here practicing, somebody else will do it four you and that means you’ll slip out of your position.
“We do enjoy ourselves and it’s more relaxed around it but guys practice the same as they did on Tour and may be work a little bit harder out here.”
After this week, the field will be trimmed to 54 players before the top-36 look to overcome the final hurdle. Harrington won’t have any card concerns after winning earlier this year but there are several players entering this week on the bubble who could be about to play their last professional event.
That could be the case for 58-year-old Glen Day whose 767th career start on Tour may be his last unless he finishes inside the top-12 to move from 65th to 54th and advance to next week and earn conditional status for 2025.
Careers can be long on the PGA Tour, particularly in the modern game, players are able to stay competitive for longer and Harrington is an example. But the three-time major champion feels the Champions Tour is more ruthless because players know they have a limited shelf life.
“I think they feel like there’s a limited life out here. I think when you get to the PGA TOUR you think everything is rosey and you’re always going to be on the PGA TOUR. When you get to the Champions Tour you realise you are getting old and you’ve only got a few years,” Harrington added.
“You might get three or four years before you’re gone because you are not going to be as competitive at 56 or 57 as you were at 50 so they understand that they get this one opportunity and they have to make the most of it as soon as they can so that’s why they work so hard.
“There’s always new guys, always fresh guys coming out so every year I think I counted seven rookies in the top-36. So, that’s seven guys who are gone. It really is cut throat out here, very difficult.”