Pádraig Harrington will honour invitations

Double winning Honda Classic champion Pádraig Harrington intends honouring sponsors invitations even though he says it will ‘hurt’ his Masters preparations.

Harrington earned an automatic invitation into the season’s first Major after ending a seven-year PGA Tour drought yesterday.

Harrington now has the dilemma of honouring the four invitations he has been afforded over the next month, starting with the Valspar Championship at Tampa Bay on March 12 right up to the week before the Masters with the April 2nd to 5th Shell Houston Open.

“I was playing on invitation this week and after going home for a week, I’ve committed to the next four as I’ve been afforded invitations for them even though now I am officially exempt on the Tour for the remainder of this year and the next two years,” he said.

“That’s the one thing in seeking an invitation as I said if you give me an invitation, I will be there.”

“So while it’s terrible preparations for the Masters I will never say ‘No’ to an invitation and I will honour them.