Harrington still dreaming of "finding the secret” as Hall of Fame induction approaches
Padraig Harrington reacts after a putt on the eight hole during the final round at the 2022 U.S. Senior Open at Saucon Valley C.C. (Old Course) in Bethlehem, Pa. on Sunday, June 26, 2022. (Chris Keane/USGA)
Pádraig Harrington admits he's already mentally drafting his speech for his induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame this summer.
The three-time major winner will become only the third Irishman after amateur Joe Carr and Christy O'Connor Snr to become a member when he is inducted at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club on June 10, the Monday of US Open week.
The Dubliner (52) makes his PGA Tour Champions debut in this week's Chubb Classic in Florida, still struggling to find energy after falling ill with pneumonia over Christmas.
But he remains as enthusiastic as ever about the game and is eagerly awaiting June's induction ceremony.
"I'm starting to get into it," Harrington said in Naples. "I'm starting to think about what I want to say, getting in my head where I'm going to go with it, what sort of angle.
"I think you're probably hitting the nail on the head. It's probably a nice -- just some nice stories and celebrating, just be very thankful for that, what golf has given to me over the years."
Harrington admitted he was not ready to compete in the DP World Tour's desert swing last month, but while he's hoping for better at Tiburon Golf Club this week, he's far from 100 pc.
"I've had pneumonia during the winter, so I'm struggling a little bit still with the recovery and the energy," he said. "It's nice to be in the sunshine."
He added: "I played two in the Middle East. I thought I was ready, but I wasn't. The pneumonia was worse than I thought. Again, I've come out here and I started Monday here feeling pretty good and gone downhill every day energy-wise."
Despite that, he admits that the Champions Tour has rejuvenated him as a player having already overcome burnout in 2016 thanks to the camaraderie of the DP World Tour.
"I think if I was out there struggling to make putts, I think I would quickly lose interest," he said. "The Champions Tour really does do the job it's meant to do. It gives you a second lease on life.
"And during the winter, as I said, I had pneumonia and I've been struggling. I still worked on my technique and swing, and you're coming back out with a few things you've changed and a lot of hope. You're always coming back out thinking you found the secret.
"I remember watching an interview with Arnold Palmer, Champions Tour event. I would say he was close to 70 at the time. Came in and shot a low one, had beaten his age. He was like absolutely blushing with excitement in the interview saying he had found the secret.
"Anybody that plays the game long enough, we all dream of finding the secret. We take the reality that we know that ain't ever happening.
"You always think, maybe I'll wake up tomorrow and I have that one key thought that I believe in and trust and it'll never go wrong."
He still wants to compete with the young guns and play back-to-back PGA Tour events when he follows next week's Mexico Open at Vidanta with a bid for a third win in the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches (formerly Honda Classic) before mixing seniors and regular tour events in March.
"So my Champions Tour really doesn't start going until, for me, it's really starting in May," he said. "You know, I like those Champions Tour events into the summer, majors and that.
"I see the Champions Tour much more of that. Sort of early season I still have to hold down competing with the old guys and then want to try and get my game in that sort of shape, and maybe when it gets to middle or later of the season, reality kicks in and I come back to the Champions Tour."
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