(ATR) Olympian and three-time major champion Padraig Harrington said he believes he can qualify for a second Olympics in Tokyo 2020, while also raving about the Paris 2024 course.
Harrington represented Ireland as golf returned to the Olympic Games for the first time in 112 years at the Rio 2016 Games. The veteran golf professional from Dublin finished the four round tournament at three-under-par, tied for 21st.
"To be an Olympic athlete and as a golfer, it’s certainly something you definitely want to do in your career," Harrington tells Around the Rings, prior to the Czech Masters, this week’s European Tour event in Prague.
"On top of that if you can win an Olympic gold medal that will top it all off. Especially when you come to smaller countries, like here in the Czech Republic, the Olympics is far bigger.
"As I travel the world, I usually get introduced as three-time major winner Padraig Harrington, but in some places, they say Olympic athlete and three-time major winner. For them, it gives much more kudos."
The Czech Masters in the penultimate qualifying event in determining the European team for the upcoming 42nd Ryder Cup. The biennial match play showdown between the U.S. and Europe will be played at Le Golf National, about an hour southwest of Paris, near Versailles, from September 28 to 30. It marks the first time that the showcase event is being contested in France. It will be held on the Albatros course, which will also be used for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
"You can’t beat Le Golf National – as a venue and a golf course it is superb," Harrington said. "It was built and designed for this and they got it right. It is a phenomenal, excellent stadium golf course.
"It is built for drama and there will be drama. It starts and finishes with so much drama. And being where it is – so close to and in the shadow of Versailles and Paris is perfect."
European Ryder Cup vice-captain Lee Westwood has called it his favorite course in Europe, noting that it will make for a great venue.
Opened in October 1990, Le Golf National has a proven track record of hosting the golfing elite. Since 1991, the 7,300-yard, par 72 Albatros course has been the setting for all but two Open de France tournaments. The spectator friendly course has a capacity of 80,000 fans.
The finishing four holes are surrounded by water hazards and could make for a dramatic Olympic finale similar to Rio 2016, as Olympic champion Justin Rose outdueled Henrik Stenson on the 72nd hole.
Harrington’s fellow Irishman Rory McIlroy was among 20 male golfers who pulled out of the Rio Olympic tournament, many citing health concerns over the Zika virus.
"I think the players that didn’t go all know that they made a catastrophic error and they all regret it," Harrington said.
"The only ones who don’t regret it are the ones who expect to play in Tokyo 2020, but there will be some who turned it down the last time who don’t get to play [in Tokyo] and they will regret it going forward in their careers."
Harrington was among four pro golfers who accompanied International Golf Federation executives Peter Dawson and Ty Votaw at the 2009 IOC session in Copenhagen, doing his share to help elevate the sport to Olympic status.
Although Harrington has been struggling with his game and lost his PGA Tour card after missing the cut at last week’s Wyndham Championship in North Carolina, the 46-year-old Irishman still believes he can qualify for a second Olympic Games come Tokyo 2020.
"I hope to sneak under the radar and get in there," he said. "The other Irish guys don’t think so, but I could turn some nice form and succeed."
Written and reported by Brian Pinelliin Prague
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