Grassroots feel Harrington effect

ALL over Ireland this week, there will be youngsters begging lifts to the nearest golf course in the hope of emulating Pádraig Harrington, and the British Open champion’s own alma mater in Stackstown will be among the busiest hives of activity.

Having celebrated their most famous son’s success the night before, club members had little time to nurse any sore heads, with hundreds of children converging on the south Dublin course for the annual TileStyle tournament.

Harrington was aged 11 when he played on the team that won the competition in its first year, but his success has reverberated far beyond Stackstown.