Boca Raton, Florida .….Padraig Harrington and long-time caddy Ronan Flood were Miami Airport bound, heading home to Ireland delighted with their eventual effort in the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Championship here at Boca Raton in Florida.
The triple Major winning Harrington was enjoying the Champions Tour event, his first of a new over-50s season.
Harrington superbly turned around a horror opening round of a 79 with a second 66 and then a sizzling closing 65, in very hot conditions on the Old Course at Broken Sound course.
AFTER HIS NOSE-DIVE START, HARRINGTON JETTING HOME PLEASED …
@padraig_h @WilsonGolf @mutualofomaha delighted to have bounced back so well from his shock 2026 @ChampionsTour season opener @JamesHardieInv
“If I can continue to produce the good stuff & not get drawn… pic.twitter.com/8hsJ0F6GL6
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) March 8, 2026
So, after being seven-over on Friday, and a round that included two birdies but also five bogeys and a pair of double-bogeys, the Dubliner produced an eagle and five birdies on day two ahead of superb third round bogey-free haul of seven birdies, and ending in holing a brilliant six-footer for par after having sought a ruling when he second shot came to rest against the frame of a grandstand at the back of the 18th. (See image)
“I like this golf course as there is a lot of risk and reward”, said Harrington speaking with GolfByTourMiss
“It is the kind of golf course I find intimidating but then you can score well on it. I went out the first day and put myself under a too much pressure for the first 10 holes on Friday which was okat but I then I got a lot of bad breaks for my closing eight holes, and it got away from me.
“It wasn’t that I was not trying but the good thing, I holed about a 8-footer to beat the ‘old lady’ on 18 (smiling).”
“I had been playing in the Middle East at the start of the year, so it wasn’t a case of being rusty. The thing is on the Champions Tour there is a lot of pressure, and the events being three rounds, that if you don’t start off well to be about three or four under after nine holes it’s then hard to get to 16-under par at the end of the week that should put you well in contention.
“This week’s golf course was tougher and maybe I didn’t factor that in but then I shot 17-under the last time I was here. So, I just put myself under a bit too much pressure. Got a little bit down on myself but then I kept trying that first round but then it doesn’t help having five three-putts.
“On the plus side, I feel like I am driving the ball well while I liked the way my mental game improved as the week progressed. So, a combination of those two and I really feel I have a plan for the rest of the year.
“So, if I can continue to produce the good stuff and not get drawn into some of the distractions I get myself lost in then the year so be okay”.
At tournament end, Harrington finished a very credible fourth place and scores of 79, 66 & 65.
Double major winning Zach Johnson became the 24th Tour player to taste success on the three main PGA T2our’s – winning on the secondary Kornferry Tour, the PGA Tour (Maiden 2in at the 2004 BellSouth Classic) and now victorious in his maiden Champions Tour start.
