‘A lot of emotions’ for Padraig Harrington following golf Hall of Fame nod

Padraig Harrington has told of his “deep satisfaction” ahead of his induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

The triple major winner has enjoyed considerable longevity in his pro career, winning on the Senior Tour for the first time in 2022 14 years on from his third major win at the PGA Championship in 2008.

Harrington had claimed his first major at the 2007 Open Championship from Carnoustie before successfully defending his crown at Royal Birkdale a year later.

He is set to be officially inducted into the Class of 2024 on Monday next in a nod to his achievements on the course in more than a quarter of a century as a pro and, ahead of that, he described the range of emotions at play.

‘By getting into the Hall of Fame, it brings a lot of emotions,’ he said. ‘Validation, no doubt about it. Satisfaction, no doubt about it.

‘And they were the first emotions 100%. It’s a deep sense of satisfaction that I’ve done it, I’ve done well, that it’s marked now.

‘But as the week’s gone on, there’s certainly the sense of joy, that I get to enjoy all these past glories again and maybe take it in more than I might have done 20 years ago.

‘Hall of Fames really aren’t on the radar in Ireland are they? It’s not something that we would have naturally grown up with.

‘It’s only become a thing as you get out on tour. Then as you start to play better, it becomes a much bigger thing.

‘You start realising, “that’s a Hall of Fame career, he’s a Hall of Fame player”, people talk like that. I suppose it’s a way of measuring success.

‘So once you do start playing well, it does become on your radar and it’s something that you want to be part of for sure. It’s certainly not something I would’ve dreamt about when I started out.’