ORLANDO, Fla. Padraig Harrington plays in the PNC Championship for the third time and loves the idea of bonding with his son Patrick and exposing him to the game he has excelled in as a pro.
He also enjoys watching the various golf swings from legends and amateurs alike. Three stood out this week: Gary Player, Lee Trevino and Charlie Woods.
Yes, that’s two 80-something Hall of Famers and Tiger Woods’ 11-year-old son, who is the youngest player to ever compete in the event starting Saturday at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort.
“What I do find interesting is that I think Tiger turned pro just before me or around the same time,” Harrington said after a pro-am round on Friday. “This is the first tournament I’ve ever played in which Tiger Woods plays, because he’s not the star of the show.
He should notice that himself. He’s not the star of the show this week. And that’s a lot among the players and the pros. We’re all going down and everyone stops to look at Charlie. ” by the way, Tiger. ‘It’s unbelievable how much excitement it causes. “
There was a big surprise last month when Woods announced that he would be playing the event reserved for major champions and a family member.
Charlie Woods has shown himself to be a decent player, with a golf swing that is an uncanny resemblance to his famous father, who has won 15 major titles. Tiger Woods said repeatedly that he just wants his son to “enjoy” the game. Charlie showed a lot of promise in two pro-am gigs.
Harrington, 49, is the captain of the European Ryder Cup team, the biennial competition that was postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Winner of 31 global tournaments, including three major championships, he had his share of fighting with the elder Woods.
But he is intrigued by what is happening to Charlie Woods.
“I’ve seen three golf swings this week,” said Harrington. “I really stopped with three people to watch it. Gary Player. Lee Trevino and Charlie Woods. I’ll stop to watch the sons. But three in particular I take my time.
“Gary Player to me, at the age of 85, it’s just incredible how well he hits it. Lee Trevino is still a beautiful ball-striker at the age of 81. Wouldn’t you like to be like that? End of the scale at the age of 11 you have Charlie Woods and what’s in front of him. It’s interesting.
“Push Tiger aside,” Harrington quipped. “You are no longer the story.”
Like his experience with Patrick, who is 17, Harrington said the idea is to have fun and not worry too much about the results.
“Sure, for the first few years you just wanted him to get a good shot,” Harrington said. “I remember the first year he hit a nice throw in 13 and turned it back. He hit rock dead. And they showed it on TV. This is the key. They showed it on TV. It was an exceptional shot, but it was broadcast.
“They’re not meant to show the bad pictures. We’re here to enjoy ourselves. They’re doing a good job. As much as the pressure on the kids comes, it’s not too bad in terms of format. Tournament, there is a bit busy. But if you’re not, it’s a really nice week. “
Tiger and Charlie Woods hit the road at 11:48 a.m.ET along with Justin Thomas and his dad, Mike.