Just doing it: Parkhill’s mission to put swoosh top of the game

They may have been 1989 Irish Boys team-mates but that’s where Pádraig Harrington and Simon Parkhill’s golfing careers took very divergent pathways.

Harrington’s is well documented but Parkhill, who represented Castlerock GC, has enjoyed success too and is looking forward to the 2012 season as much as the three-time major winner following his top-10 finish at the Masters.

That is because Parkhill, 40, is just settling into his new role as Nike Golf’s European Sales Director and the timing of his appointment, moving from the company’s football division, has been impeccable, not only given the boost the Masters brings to golf equipment and clothing sales but also the resurgence in interest brought about by Tiger Woods’ Bay Hill victory earlier this year.