Profi le – Padraig Harrington
“In many ways, Irish journalists and I built a very
him because of their administrative role in the game. Offi cials to whom I spoke were of one mind in declaring him to be easily the most amenable champion of recent decades. Against this background, his ambassadorial role for
Fáilte Ireland could hardly be more appropriate. As he said: “When travelling the globe, I visit some wonderful places and get to play some of the world’s best courses, but I always look forward to returning home and experiencing the unique pleasure of golf in Ireland. Apart from our great courses, we provide a friendly welcome which, I assure you, means a lot to the travelling golfer.” Harrington’s awareness of the game at all levels, was
illustrated during US Masters week 2009, when he was present to accept the Association of American Golf Writers’ award for his golfi ng exploits the previous year. Especially interesting was the nature of his speech, for which he received not one but two standing ovations.
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comfortable working relationship over the years,” he began. Then, getting to the meat of things, he went on: “We are in diffi cult times and your profession has been fi nding it tougher and tougher in the way you’re being pushed further and further away from the professionals. It seems that most or nearly all young professionals have it indoctrinated into them to be wary or afraid or scared of journalists. Hopefully, in these diffi cult times, you guys will be able to regain the standing you had 10, 15, 20 years ago. We all love the written pieces. You do a great job and we need you.” As one American scribe remarked afterwards: “He
talked about us, not about himself. That was hugely impressive.” Small wonder that the association honoured him again in April 2010, this time with the special, ASAP Sports award for being a general good egg in his dealing with the US media. “Displaying his usual, wry sense of humour, Padraig
had a rapt audience,” said Thomas Bonk, a leading US golf scribe. “You don’t often hear a player talking about how to get along with people and I think our members really appreciated his honesty. My only regret is that there weren’t more players present to hear what he had to say.” As an Irish man Padraig says it’s a privilege and
pleasure to represent Ireland as its fi rst Golf Ambassador and to fl y the fl ag for all those who make golfi ng in Ireland the special game it is.
This page: Padraig competing at the BMW PGA Championship 2010 at Wentworth
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