Padraig Harrington is one of the most successful golfers of recent decades, so when he gives advice on how to get children interested in the game, it’s always worth taking it on board.
The Irishman, who won three Majors in a 13-month spell in 2007 and 2008, got his season underway in the Dubai Desert Classic, where he narrowly missed the cut following rounds of 70 and 75.
At the event, he spoke to the DP World Tour, where he offered some words of wisdom for anyone hoping to encourage their children to follow in his footsteps with a career in the professional game – and he says it all starts by not putting pressure on them.
He began: “Just let them have fun. Let them just smash it, find it and have fun getting it in the hole. We’re old and we’re trying to get our kids as good as they can, quickly. That’s because we don’t think we have time but, if you send your kids out they’re learning two, three, four, five, six weeks, three months, whatever it is they’ll get there at their own pace, they’ll figure it out.”
A must watch for golf parents…@padraig_h explains how to get your kids to love playing golf.#HeroDubaiDesertClassic | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/mNkmaJTFkVJanuary 17, 2025
The 53-year-old, who has two sons, also acknowledged that sometimes, well-meaning advice from a parent to their child can be interpreted as criticism.
He explained: “We are so anxious, and want them to do this straight away. They have time, so we should just leave them and let them do the mistakes, and if they ask you, that’s good, but don’t get into it.
“Even with my own kids I’d be aware of this and I’d be telling them that, but they would always tell me if I told them something they took that as a criticism. Even if I was helping them, they would take it as ‘I’m doing something wrong.’
“You’re better off letting them make the mistakes and they have time, they have so much time. Our clock is out, we think ‘get better right now.’ Just let them enjoy it, bring them to a stress-free environment, bring them home before they get tired. Try and take them away whilst they’re enjoying it, rather than waiting until they’re not enjoying it.”
Paddy Harrington played with father Padraig at December’s PNC Championship
(Image credit: Getty Images)
It’s not the first time Harrington has offered advice on…
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