Padraig Harrington predicts Rory McIlroy U-turn

Rory McIlroy couldn’t have been any more clear  – but Padraig Harrington still isn’t convinced.

Before lifting his second PLAYERS crown at TPC Sawgrass on Monday, McIlroy was reacting to Tiger Woods’ latest injury setback and addressing his own golfing mortality.

While Woods, 49, is eligible for the Champions Tour next year, McIlroy was adamant that he has no interest in competing in the over 50s circuit when his own time at the elite level draws to a close.

In fact, McIlroy even claimed he wants to “walk away with a little bit in the tank.”

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“I will not play Champions Tour golf,” McIlroy stressed. “I’ve said a lot of absolutes in my time that I’ve walked back, but I do not envision playing Champions Tour golf. Something has went terribly wrong if I have to compete at golf at 50.”

Harrington believes McIlroy could yet reverse such an ardent stance when he realises how much fun can be had on the Champions Tour.

“Look, they’re words,” Harrington said in a considered response ahead of his defence of the Hoag Classic in California. “You say words and they’re picked over and pulled apart.

“I think what you’ll find is a lot of people when they’re 30 years of age need to have an – Rory’s a little older than that – but needs to have an idea that there’s a limit on this, but that limit comes up very quickly and it gets passed.

“We’ve heard a lot of people say that. The fact of the matter is somebody like me, I’ve never been happier than out here playing on the Champions Tour. Never been happier.

“Love my golf, loving my life. I can’t see like why anybody wouldn’t want to do this. Literally every week I’m living a life that people would save the whole year to have this one week.

“For most people my age, to go on a one-week golf trip is like the biggest thing they could do in a year and I get to do it 30 times a year.

“So look, I think Rory will find that it’s likely it will change. There’s fun to be had out here. And he’s hit lots of great shots. I think the big bonus of the Champions Tour is you get to hit shots coming down the stretch, great shots under pressure.

“And in some ways you’re reliving your past, you’re reliving the wins you’ve had, you’re validating the wins you’ve had in some ways.”

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Harrington, a nine-time winner on the American senior circuit after turning 50 in 2021, thinks McIlroy may still be tempted to follow in the footsteps of icons in the game by continuing to compete.

“With all his wins when he comes out here as Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus and all the others, he will get the glory and get to enjoy those junior wins, let’s say, when he’s on the senior tour,” Harrington added.

“Look, everybody’s different, but it’s fun out here and as I said, we’ve heard a lot of people say that.

“And it’s a reasonable narrative because you’ve got to remember Rory’s playing golf probably full time since he’s 12, 13 years of age.

“He’s got to put an end to it at this moment in his head or else it just would be overbearing and that end to him is obviously 45, 50 years of age.

“But it just comes around so quick. Things will change. And I’m not saying everybody changes, but it’s likely that things will change and he’ll actually come out, have a bit of fun.”

Ben Parsons is the Senior Writer at bunkered and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.