Harrington has 'practical' idea

Padraig Harrington spoke today of his admiration for Heather and Darren Clarke - and about his decision to donate all his prize money from this week’s United States PGA championship to breast cancer research.

Clarke’s wife died early on Sunday morning after a long battle with the illness and Harrington heard about it as he was at the airport heading to the final major of the season in Chicago.

Fellow Dubliner Paul McGinley, a former neighbour of the Clarkes, instantly decided he was staying at home to attend Thursday’s funeral, but Harrington and others close to the family like Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell and Thomas Bjorn decided to make the trip.

“Darren made it quite clear he felt the players should go and play and that made our decision a lot easier,” said Harrington.

“I talked to Paul on Sunday morning and there was no decision on his part. It was not even a question for him. Paul and Abi (McGinley’s wife) have been very close to the Clarkes.

“There are more important things than golf and I think he did the right thing.

“Donating my money makes me feel like I am doing something practical and I’d be delighted to hand over whatever.” First prize on Sunday is in the region of €1,000,000.

“When you go to funeral you can’t be much help anyway. This is at least a practical way of helping.”

Harrington, whose father died of cancer last July, added: “I think both Darren and Heather were exceptionally brave and so dignified about what they’ve gone through.

“It’s been terribly hard. Heather never once complained and they haven’t got down. They just struggled on.

“Both Darren on the course and Darren and Heather off the course were an example to everybody that they were getting on with it. She put up a brave struggle.

“I think Darren’s play on the course (he almost won the Irish and Scottish Opens this year) is only a reflection of Heather’s attitude off the course - that she wanted Darren to play.

“It’s a tough game and it’s exceptionally tough when there are distractions. Mental distractions and stress.

“Obviously Darren was carrying all of that onto the golf course, all that baggage. He handled himself extremely well and, as I said, I think they way he was was because Heather was so strong behind him.”

McDowell, like Heather from Portrush, admitted he wrestled with his conscience before deciding to following Clarke’s advice.

“I was in Orlando last week when I heard. It was terrible news and we all feel for Darren and his family right now,” he said.

“My mum and dad are quite close to Darren’s mum and dad, so I thought ’Will I go back or will I not?’ It was a tough one and I’m sure it was very tough on Lee too as this is a tournament he didn’t want to miss.”

Westwood was in the Bahamas when he was called.

“I spoke to Darren yesterday. He wants us to keep playing and I think it’s what Heather would have wanted too in the same way that she wanted Darren to keep on playing while she was ill,” said the Worksop player, who has partnered Clarke in two Ryder Cups.

McGinley’s decision puts in jeopardy his 10th place in the Ryder Cup race with two further events to come, but Harrington commented: “I still think he’s going to make the team. I don’t think there’s going to be an issue there.”

The Dubliner will return at next week’s Bridgestone world championship in Akron, Ohio, and the race ends with the BMW International in Munich.

Westwood, among those who could go past McGinley into an automatic spot, finished 16th when the PGA Championship was last held at Medinah Country Club in 1999.

He played with eventual winner Tiger Woods in the third round and Westwood had to be put on a drip after suffer severe dehydration.

“I was close to collapse on the back nine,” he recalled today. “I got light-headed and everything started to have a sort of glazed look.

“I was drinking a lot, but it wasn’t enough. I started upping my fluid levels last week to try to make sure the same doesn’t happen.”

The heat and humidity is not expected to be a factor this week, however.