Harrington: “Charley Is A Breadth Of Fresh Air, Quite A Change In The Women’s Game”.

2 hours ago by 0

Three-time major winning Padraig Harrington was full of praise for one of the best female golfer’s in the game – Charley Hull.

Harrington was speaking at last week’s PNC Championship, a 20-team mixed event that took place on the Ritz Carlton course in surbuban Orlando.

However Hull was not a competitor in Florida and with the question to Harrington somewhat coming way out of left field but nonetheless producing gem of a reply from the affable Irishman.

The 29-year-old World No. 5 ranked Hull is undoubtedly one of the stars in women’s golf having won eight times in her pro career including three victories, and one this past season on the LPGA Tour along with another four on the Ladies European Tour.

Hull also has finished three times as runner-up in the LPGA majors, including second for a second occasion in the past three years at the year’s Women’s British Open.

“There’s no doubt that Charley is a breath of fresh air, quite a change in the women’s game,” said Harrington who had again teamed with his son Paddy to finish T7th.

“I think the ladies have been taught over the years, it’s consistently hit the fairways, hit the greens.

“Charley’s is much more swashbuckling. Gives it a rip off the tee. Finds it, gets it up and down from there, and probably is playing the game more like the men are playing the game.

“I think she would be an interesting role model for the young girls going forward that a lot of them, she could change the concept of the way the ladies game is played, and you will possibly see in three, four years’ time and onwards, more aggressive players, more hit and miss players that hit it wild, hit it long. Ladies have tended to stay way from that. They have kept the golf courses short to stop people like Charley Hull hitting their driver.

“But, you know, the game has moved on. You’re going to get people who see Charley’s playing and go, I’m going to play like that. I’m going to hit it and if I’m having a good day, it’s great, I’m going to go after it when I’m playing well, and when I hit bad shots I’m going to deal with it and get up-and-down and I’m just going to be a little bit more — I suppose the word “swashbuckling” is the way it is.

“And that’s — you know, she’s great to watch. Interesting to watch. You know, and there’s different styles. It doesn’t take away from other players who are very meticulous and fairways and greens orientated. This is — she’s playing the game, and I suspect the reason she’s playing the game the way she is is she’s probably played a lot of golf with young male golfers, and she’s figured out, you know what, just give it a hit and figure out what to do when you get there”.

Wow!  A great answer Padraig.



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