Harrington to sign off terrible year in Indonesia; adds extra Gaiety gigs

Pádraig Harrington will be performing his charity clinics at the Gaiety Theatre on Jan 20 and 21.

Three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington will draw a line under the worst season of his professional career in Indonesia next month.

The Dubliner, down to 371st in the world from a high of third following his 2008 US PGA win, he joins defending champion Gaganjeet Bhullar and Hong Kong Open winner Scott Hend at this year’s $750,000 BANK BRI Indonesia Open at the Damai Indah Golf, Pantai Indah Kapuk Course from December 4 to 7.

Pádraig Harrington

Harrington became the first European player in 102 years to defend The Open Championship title when he won at Royal Birkdale in 2008, the same year he won the PGA Championship and reached a career high of number three in the world ranking. 

Having bagged 28 professional titles, the 43-year-old Dublin native is playing the Bank BRI Indonesia Open for the first time.

“I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world playing golf but I’ve never played the Indonesia Open so I’m really looking forward to a new challenge, on a new course in a new country,” Harrington said.

“There are some great names on the tournament’s roll of honour including Payne Stewart and Frank Nobilo and I’m very keen to add mine to that list. 

"However, I know the field is going to be strong.  Gaganjeet is defending and Scott Hend is in great form having won the Hong Kong Open and finished runner up in Macau so I’m going to have to be on my game to get into contention."

Harrington, who recently described his 2014 season as "terrible", has missed 14 cuts from 31 starts  but remains as popular as ever, especially at home.

His recently announced January 20 charity appearance at the Gaiety Theatre, "An Evening with Pádraig Harrington" has sold out and he has added two extra shows — a matinée and evening performance — on Wednesday, January 21.