Pádraig gets a kick out of watching Phil

Professional golfers admit that defending an apparently invincible lead is something they don’t always relish. And that’s why Pádraig Harrington was so impressed by the manner in which his playing partner Phil Mickelson led the Phoenix Open from start to finish at the weekend.

“Obviously when you’re leading, you’re confident, but it’s tough to lead from the front,” explained Harrington. “Phil had a substantial lead and he’s won a number of tournaments so he was a good bet in that situation.

“But I think for most professional golfers, holding the lead is always going to be one of the toughest things. If you’re chasing, if it goes well, great, you win the tournament or catch the leader.