Padraig Harrington Shot 80 at The Open. Then Came an Even Bigger Surprise

Padraig Harrington, a three-time major champion, faced a challenging start at one of golf's most prestigious tournaments, The Open Championship. In the first round, held at the renowned Royal Birkdale course, the Irishman carded an 80, 10 over par. However, as it turned out, this result did not elicit the expected disappointment or embarrassment from him.

An Unexpected Reaction to a High Score

Staying near the course, author Michael Bamberger discussed Harrington's play with a friend who remarked, "He must be so embarrassed." Bamberger, however, countered, based on his understanding of the Irishman's character: "I can almost guarantee you, he's not."

This confidence was bolstered by Harrington's career history. In 2008, he won The Open precisely at this venue, Royal Birkdale, playing in the final twosome with Greg Norman. More recently, at the age of 54, Harrington also secured victory at the U.S. Senior Open, demonstrating that his playing form remains at a high level.

"Why do you say that?" asked Bamberger's friend, whose hands were tanned from gardening. The answer was simple: "Because Paddy's thing, forever, has been this: Do the best you can, and what you shoot you shoot."

Harrington's Own Words

After his first round, Harrington showed improvement in the second round, shooting a 69, one under par. After signing his card, he heard Bamberger relay his friend's comment and was asked to weigh in. Harrington, as always, was candid and provided a detailed response, which was only lightly edited for clarity.

"I was trying to beat the fat lady for quite a while on Thursday," Harrington began, referring to the score of 88 he aimed to avoid. "The source author tried on every shot, and I was trying to break 80. I shot 80."

Speaking about the second day, he added, "Today, 69. The difference between Thursday and Friday? Just golf. I didn't play any better today than I did yesterday. I can tell you after yesterday, I was keen to go out there and shoot a good number. I didn't play well yesterday and probably should have shot 75. I didn't play much better today. Yesterday I had a few breaks that didn't help me. Today I got a few breaks that did. But there wasn't a massive difference."

Summation and Philosophy

In summation, Harrington was not embarrassed by his opening 80. He was also not particularly impressed by his second-round 69. His only real disappointment was missing the cut. But, as he himself says, "It's golf."

This philosophy—accepting the game as it is, with its ups and downs, its good bounces and bad ones—has always been a hallmark of Padraig Harrington. Even after a less-than-ideal opening round at The Open, he maintained his composure and focused on the next day, demonstrating the maturity and experience accumulated over a long professional career. His ability to remain unfazed by emotions and analyze his game objectively, regardless of the outcome, is one of the reasons for his longevity and success in this challenging sport.

Despite missing the cut, Harrington's performance at Royal Birkdale once again reminded the golf world of his resilient spirit and unique approach to the game, which continues to inspire many.