Padraig Harrington: Golf’s Quietly Dominant Force or Just a Good Ol’ Chap?

Look, we all love a good comeback story. And a guy who just keeps on winning, even when the spotlight’s moved on? Even better. Padraig Harrington, the guy with the three majors who then just… kept going? He’s been on a tear lately, snagging another senior major. Fourth one, mind you. And he’s not just playing golf; he’s talking about it. Really talking about it. So, the question is: does this bloke get enough credit? Or is he just… you know, doing his thing and we’ll appreciate it when he’s gone?

The Harrington Renaissance: More Than Just a Senior Tour Run

Harrington just defended his U.S. Senior Open title. That’s a big deal. Four senior majors now. Four! And it’s not like he’s just collecting trophies on a weaker tour. This guy was in contention at the majors not too long ago, and he’s still sniffing around the cut line at the big ones. It’s impressive, plain and simple. We tend to only see the greatness once it’s in the rearview mirror, right? Like, who really appreciated Jack Nicklaus while he was racking up 18 majors? Probably not enough people. Harrington’s longevity, his ability to win on the Champions Tour and still be relevant at the highest level… it’s something. Don’t be shocked if he’s hanging around come the weekend at Birkdale. He’s got that knack.

And it’s not just his play. This is where it gets interesting. Harrington’s out there on YouTube, breaking down swings, showing you how he tinkers. He’s open in interviews. He’s not holding back. In a world where some golfers seem determined to build walls around themselves, Harrington’s handing out keys. He’s actively trying to grow the game. Yeah, I know, ‘growing the game’ sounds like corporate bullshit, but he’s actually doing it. He’s making golf accessible. If you want people to care about what you do, you gotta let them in. And Paddy? He’s basically thrown the doors wide open. His off-course game is as sharp as his on-course game. And he’s pretty damn good at the golf thing, too.

A Career of Two Halves: Major Winner and Golf Geek

He’s had a career that’s frankly wild. Everyone knows him for those three majors he stacked up like dominoes. But then there’s this other side. The guy you see on the range with all these… let’s call them ‘unique’ training aids. He’s always fiddling. Always experimenting. It’s like he’s got a golf lab going on. And this recent senior major win? It’s happening at a weird time. You’ve got Tiger and Phil, guys around his age, kinda fading out of the picture for now. And Harrington? He’s still right there. In the thick of it. It’s what we all thought Tiger and Phil would still be doing, isn’t it? It’s good to see him still competing, still having that success. And he’s got the good sense to know how damn lucky he is to still be playing professional golf. That’s a rare thing.

Then you’ve got the whole Jordan Spieth thing. He’s talking about sports gambling, how it’s influencing the game. And yeah, some people pointed out he’s a FanDuel ambassador. The Tour itself is all over these gambling partnerships. Spieth’s point is valid, though. He said you could impact a shot if you wanted to. What other sport can a fan do that? It’s a fair question. But is there a way out of this mess? Do we even want one?

The Gambling Mess: A Problem Without a Solution?

Honestly, there’s no real solution. The genie is out of the bottle. You can’t put it back. Unless you go back to banning everything, which ain’t happening. The PGA Tour is trying to put up some guardrails, trying to protect players from the lunatics who harass them. They’re embracing gambling because it brings in eyes, and every sport is desperate for eyeballs. But this is the price you pay. I don’t think gambling was the main reason people were so harsh on Wyndham Clark at Shinnecock, though. That was probably a side issue. There were bigger things going on there.

And it’s not just gambling. Is alcohol to blame for bad fan behavior? A bit. Phones? A bit. Social media? A bit. New fans who don’t know golf etiquette? A bit. The loss of shame? Yeah, that’s a big one too. It’s a whole cocktail of crap. My two cents? Block bets on tournaments in the state where they’re being played. It’s a start. It’s something.

But is it enough? Probably not. When the TV broadcasts are flashing odds and the Tour’s website lists them next to player names, you’re already too deep. The real fix for better fan behavior? You just have to hope people are decent human beings when they show up. But for a small, vocal minority, that’s apparently asking way too much.

Spieth’s Birkdale Gambit: Good Vibes Only?

Now, about Jordan Spieth. He’s skipping the Scottish. Heading to Birkdale early for The Open. It’s where he won his last major back in 2017. Will those good vibes, that Claret Jug success, turn his season around? What are his chances in the final major?

When I talked to Spieth at the PGA Championship, he said he felt better heading into a major than he had since that 2017 win. Said it was his best chance to win a major since leaving Birkdale. How much stock do you put in that? Who knows. His game’s been all over the place. He’s trying new putters. It just doesn’t seem… there. But maybe, just maybe, good memories can spark something. I’m not holding my breath, though.

You know, I think he’s building towards something. He sounds confident. He said before the John Deere: “Statistically, I feel like I could lead every category on a given week, and I have this year. It means that each part of my game can be at the highest level. I just haven’t put it together and put it together consistently enough yet. But my mechanics are mainly what’s significantly better. Then build-up of confidence, trusting in my wrist, simple things. That wasn’t always something that was an issue, but when it was, it was.” We like that. But Birkdale ain’t exactly a pitch-and-putt. A big win is coming for Spieth, but maybe not in two weeks.

The funny thing about Birkdale is that Spieth’s win over Matt Kuchar was the most Spieth-like day ever. The highs, the lows, the ball on the range, the gutsy putt. It’s still, to this day, my favorite major I’ve ever covered in person. The weird thing about Jordan is you kinda throw the stats out the window with him. Some weeks, he’s just better at getting the ball in the hole than others. I know that sounds like the dumbest thing I’ve ever typed, but I think most people who watch enough Jordan Spieth golf get it. When he’s on, there’s a little magic. I don’t think he’ll win at Birkdale, but I love the storyline and hope he plays well and contends. If there’s a place (not named Augusta) for him to win his next major title, this is as good a bet as any. His game travels well for Open Championships.

Nelly Korda’s Major Quest: Evian Challenge

Nelly Korda’s next shot at the Hall of Fame and a career Grand Slam is this week at the Evian Championship in France. Does she get it done?

She’ll contend, but I don’t think she wins this week. I think she saves her third major win for the AIG Women’s Open in a few weeks. My pick? Lottie Woad, who was in contention at last year’s Evian, gets her first major.

Three majors in one year is a lot to ask. The Hall of Fame will happen, but probably not this week.

She’ll likely have to wait another week. The putter was ice cold at the KPMG Women’s PGA, and she hasn’t cracked the top 20 at Evian in the last two years, never better than T8. Still, she won’t be waiting long for the Hall of Fame, whenever that day arrives.

Under-the-Radar Gems: Where Are You Playing?

Happy Fourth of July weekend! Someone wrote about one of America’s most exclusive, secretive golf clubs. Got us thinking: what’s the best under-the-radar course you’ve played this year?

Admittedly, I haven’t gotten out as much as I’d like this year. But I did play Quail Run Golf Course outside of Bend, Oregon. It’s a fun track. A real brute if you play it from the tips in the wind, which we unfortunately did.

Man, the person asking these questions must think we play golf non-stop. I’ll go with the course I’m playing in a month – Lawsonia in Green Lake, Wis. We go there annually, and there’s a damn good reason why.

Careful what you say about the question-maker. This year? Nothing springs to mind. Next week? A bunch of courses in Brainerd, Minn. It’s one of the most underrated golf destinations in the States. And when you’re not playing golf, you get to hang out on boats. It’s paradise.