Three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington is hoping he might get his son Paddy gripped by the golf bug when playing together at the PNC Father/Son Challenge.
The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida will host the scramble format event, which sees the likes of Bernhard Langer partner son Jason and Nick Faldo alongside son Matthew, while Jack Nicklaus will be joined by grandson Gary Nicklaus Junior.
Harrington claimed The Open in both 2007 and 2008, when the Irishman also went on to win the PGA Championship.
The 46-year-old, though, admits teaming up with Paddy, 14, represents a fresh challenge — not least in turning his son’s sporting allegiance.
“My son isn’t a big golfer at this moment. Rugby is his favourite followed by basketball, but this has piqued his interest and a catalyst to him putting a bit more work in to his golf,” Harrington said in an interview with the tournament website, www.pncfathersonchallenge.com.
“He plays around once a week at the moment, but he’s been thinking about it a bit more since we committed to playing.”
Harrington added: “He’s not very experienced when it comes to golf, so the little bit of work we’ve put in around his swing has been focused on trying to make him a more consistently good striker.
“We’ve worked a lot on his short game too and this is something he’s been improving.”
Paddy was still a toddler when his dad secured a memorable play-off victory over Sergio Garcia at Carnoustie in 2007.
The Irishman battled against a wrist injury to successful defend the title at Royal Birkdale, overcoming Greg Norman, who is also in action this week with his son Greg Jnr.
Harrington, though, is determined to keep both himself and Paddy grounded as they look to follow on from David Duval's 2016 triumph with step-son Nick Karavites.
“I have to manage his expectations and my own expectations as we’re certainly not going to be the best partnership there and a lot of things will have to go right for us to win,” Harrington said.
“I feel that we can be respectful and do well, I’m trying to get that thought in to his head.
“I don’t want him to be disappointed if we don’t finish near the top, but we’ll be doing our best and we’re looking forward to the week.”
