When he’s not chasing PGA Tour Tournament of Champions titles, Padraig Harrington can be seen in the instructional videos he posts on social media. And if given the chance, he’ll talk at length about what amateurs can do to become better golfers.
At this week’s PNC Championship, where the three-time major champion is playing alongside his son Paddy, Harrington spoke about the field, format and how the event has given his children “an even deeper love for the game of golf.”
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Returning for his eighth round at PNC, Padraig is one of the event’s 20 major champions. As per the format, each is paired with a non-professional family member.
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“They’re not trying to be professionals,” he said of his sons, stepsons and daughters who are active in the field. “They’re just trying to hit good shots and have fun with it.”
He also recognizes that there are certain dynamics to being an elite pro with a deep resume.
Paddy Harrington makes a putt on the ninth green as his father, Padraig Harrington, looks on during the second round of the 2024 PNC Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando.
“Unfortunately, for the sons and daughters of professional golfers, it’s very competitive. They watch their dads, their parents, competing all the time, the highs and the lows. And the times when everyone gets together to watch them. There’s always a wait. It’s a pretty tough and frustrating game to be a parent, especially since we’re so good and so much better than our kids for so long. Like I probably surpassed my dad in golf ability at age 13. 13, 14 years old. So it’s tough for the kids,” he said. “This (PNC) is a way to get them interested, work on the game and have something to look forward to in a very relaxed way. I enjoy coming here every year because I get to know the sons and daughters of other pros and watch them grow.”
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Padraig then went into golf swing video instructor mode, suggesting good strategies for pre-tournament practice. It’s all to do with age-old traditions. Eventually, the children will ignore what their father says and no longer want to listen to practice tips, but will listen to what others have to say.
“As I said before, I always believe that we should be rotated when it comes to this event. In terms of coaching, we should all be assigned someone’s son or daughter. Then it will be much easier to talk to them and give them lessons,” he explained.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Padraig Harrington offers golf tips for non-pros at PNC Championship
