Paddy and Pádraig Harrington. Credit PNC Championship/José María Sáiz Vasconcelos

Pádraig Harrington just wants his son Paddy form a lifelong bond with the game of golf but he fears that it will be far tougher for Charlie Woods as he’s constantly compared to his famous father.

Europe’s Ryder Cup skipper tees it up with Paddy (17) in the PNC Championship in Orlando today, hopeful that his eldest, a 15-handicapper who is a big rugby enthusiast at home, will fall in love with the game.

“I’m not sure how competitive we are but to be honest we are here for the love of the game of golf. I really want him to enjoy the game of golf and have a love for the game of golf and hopefully he will be playing this game for another 70 years, I want him to remember days and weeks like this and have a genuine love of the game of golf which is all I could ever want for my son,” Harrington said.

“What I do find interesting about the PNC Championship and you do have to mark this down is that I think Tiger turned pro slightly before me or about the same time as me. So, this is the first tournament I have played in that Tiger Woods is playing in that he’s not the star of the show. Everybody is stopping to watch Charlie and it’s incredible the buzz it has created. That sums up the PNC Championship, there’s so many nice stories here.

“I have walked down the range and stopped to watch three golf swings this week. Gary Player, always like the look of Gary Player, Lee Trevino, and Charlie Woods. I have looked at a lot of the sons too. But three in particular, I have watched more than one shot.

“Gary Player at 85 years of age, it’s just incredible how well he hits it, pound for pound how good he is. Lee Trevino is still a beautiful ball-striker at 81 years of age. Wouldn't you love to be like that. And all the way at the opposite end of the scale at 11 years of age you have Charlie Woods… It is interesting. Just push Tiger aside. You’re not the story any more.”

Charlie Woods.
Tiger Woods.

Home on the range. 🏌️🏌️ pic.twitter.com/KnSM6bPrmk
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 17, 2020

Woods’ son Charlie (11) has earned global coverage for his appearance this week and asked what he thought of the youngster, whose swing has been analysed ad infinitum this week, Harrington was impressed but also wary of the difficulties faced by a son following in the footsteps of a famous father.

“He looks like he’s a player for sure,” he said. “And he’s enjoying it and that’s all we can ask. It’s very hard and it will be for Charlie too. No matter how good he is, at some stage he will hear, he’s ‘not as good as your Dad’, or even if he is good, it will be ‘sure why wouldn’t he be good as Tiger Woods’ son’, as if it didn’t take any work or as if it was all talent.

“We all know, it doesn’t matter how much talent you have, hard work always overcomes that. If anything, Charlie’s position, and the position of sons of sports stars, it’s actually harder to follow in the footsteps.

“Yes they get a hand up here or there but it is tougher to follow.He looks like he loves the game and is embracing it for sure. It is great to see.’

“But it is tough because there’s huge pressure and stress. Look at him, he’s not as good as his Dad, or ‘sure it’s easy for him’, they will never give him credit. You never get credit for your own talent. It is either because of your dad or you are not as good as him.

“It’s the same for people born with a silver spoon. That’s why most successful sports people come from tough backgrounds. I could do it with every one of the Irish tour pros. Their dads are barmen [Rory McIlroy] and mine was a policeman. It is really tough to make it if you have options. It’s much easier to make it in a sport where either you succeed or you are out. So it will be tougher for Charlie. No doubt about it.

“With the PNC Championship and me and my son, it’s the same thing. I just want my son to love the game of golf so he will play it when he’s 85 years of age, like Gary Player. The competitive bit, that’s up to him what he wants to be in life, wha the wants to do. Whatever it is, it’s his personal drive. There is no point in me having drive for my son, it’s up to him. It has to be his. But I do want him to enjoy the game of golf I know the joy it brings me and my friends. It’s the greatest game in the world.”

Asked his personal highlight playing in the event with his son, Harrington added: “Not this year, because he is of a better standard now. But you just want him to hit one good shot and he has done that. I remember the first year, he hit a lovely pitch into 13th, spun it back. Hit it stone dead. And this is the key, they showed it on TV. it was an exceptional shot and again, the PNC Championship are not about showing the bad shots. We are here to enjoy ourselves and they do a good job.

“The format, even if you are not winning the tournament, lends itself to that. If you are winning the tournament it actually lends itself to a bit of stress. But if you are not, it really is an enjoyable week.”

The PNC Championship is a two-person team event involving PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions, LPGA Tour players and a family member playing SCRAMBLE format.

The scramble format allows both members of the team to play a tee shot and the team then selects the best shot, where both players will play from for their next shot. This select shot procedure continues until the hole is completed.

The scramble format allows unwanted shots to be lifted and placed within one club length of the spot of the selected ball but, there are a few restrictions on where the players may place and play the ball, such as maintaining the same condition or part of the course as the selected ball, a ball in a bunker must be played from within the same bunker, a ball in a penalty area must be played from within the same penalty area and on the putting green, the ball must be played within one putter head length of the spot.

All set to go. First out tomorrow at 10am. Hopefully last out Sunday. https://t.co/I2uCRVDLew
— Padraig Harrington (@padraig_h) December 19, 2020

Qualification

To qualify for the PNC Championship, players must have won a major championship or The Players Championship. Their partner must not hold a PGA TOUR card.

Past Champions of the PNC Championship

1995 – Raymond Floyd and Raymond Floyd Jr.

1996 – Raymond Floyd and Raymond Floyd Jr.

1997 – Raymond Floyd and Raymond Floyd Jr.

1998 – Bob Charles and David Charles

1999 – Jack Nicklaus and Gary Nicklaus

2000 – Raymond Floyd and Robert Floyd

2001 – Raymond Floyd and Robert Floyd

2002 – Craig Stadler and Kevin Stadler

2003 – Hale Irwin and Steve Irwin

2004 – Larry Nelson and Drew Nelson

2005 – Bernhard Langer and Stefan Langer

2006 – Bernhard Langer and Stefan Langer

2007 – Larry Nelson and Josh Nelson

2008 – Larry Nelson and Drew Nelson

2012 – Davis Love III and Davis “Dru” Love IV

2013 – Stewart Cink and Connor Cink

2014 – Bernhard Langer and Jason Langer

2015 – Lanny Wadkins and Tucker Wadkins

2016 – David Duval and Nick Karavites

2017 – Angel Cabrera and Angel Cabrera, Jr.

2018 – Davis Love III and Davis “Dru” Love IV

2019 – Bernhard Langer and Jason Langer