Golfing travails seem so trivial for Harrington now
The 40-year old Ryder Cup star and three-time major winner might have fallen from third to 87th in the world over the past three years, but he admitted in Florida yesterday that his sporting struggles mean nothing after his wife Caroline’s first cousin was paralysed from the waist down following a recent road traffic accident.
Gerard Byrne, a 35-year old father of three and the eldest son of Caroline Harrington’s aunt, was paralysed when his car hit black ice and skidded off the road in a single-car accident near his Monasterevin home the week after Christmas.
“This is why I never want to complain about golf,” said Harrington, who must see off the likes of world No. 2 Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke, Tiger Woods and Graeme McDowell and win this week’s Honda Classic to qualify for next week’s WGC-Cadillac Championship in Miami.
“Obviously Gerard will need a lot of assistance in his life — a wheelchair enabled car, renovations to his home and other things — so my current sponsors have agreed to allow me to offer all the branding on my clothing and bag to the highest bidder for three tournaments in March and April.
“If somebody wants to have their branding on the front on my hat or if they want the golf bag or any other place, it’s up for auction for that three-week spell when I am playing the Shell Houston Open, the Masters Tournament and the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head.
“We already have a bid of €100,000 for the front of my cap and €50,000 for the space on my chest. I am auctioning all my spots for that period and all my sponsors have agreed to give them up. It’s all for charity. It’s to make sure he can get the house renovated and purchase a wheelchair accessible car. You never want to complain about anything, do you.”
Harrington signed endorsement deals with Wilson Golf and FTI Consulting reportedly worth a combined $20 million at the end of 2008. His relationship with FTI Consulting ended in December but he still wears the logos for Wilson Golf, the R&A, Special Olympics and GoS Networks, amongst others.
The Dubliner knows he must win this week’s Honda Classic if he is to get back into the world’s top 50 to qualify for next week’s World Golf Championship at Doral and improve his chances of winning a seventh Ryder Cup cap.
And after working with his practice coach Dave Alred in Dublin last week and with mental coach Bob Rotella here in Florida, he’s positive about his chances.
He won the Honda Classic at neighbouring Mirasol in 2005, clinching his maiden PGA Tour win. And he believes that his win-or-nothing task will help him focus at PGA National’s tough Champions Course, where he finished tied 40th on his last appearance two years ago.
“It’s an easier situation that thinking you had to finish in the top three,” Harrington said of his quest for victory. “It might be easier to finish in the top three but it can be distracting, Winning is winning. That’s it. If I was coming in this week thinking, I need a top 20, I would be a bit cautious and anxious. But this way, it’s all duck or no dinner.
“This is a really tough golf course. As much as tough courses suit me, there are some very intimidating holes here apart from the Bear Trap from the 15th to the 17th. The sixth is one of the toughest par fours of the year and it is definitely a course that will beat you up. Thankfully it will beat other players up more than me.”
McIlroy missed a chance to become the first Irishman to reach world No 1 when he lost to Hunter Mahan in the final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play on Sunday. But the 22-year old can overtake current No 1 Luke Donald if he wins this week.
A win for world No 3 Lee Westwood and a solo second place for McIlroy would leave both just short of Donald, who is resting this week.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
