'I couldn’t have dreamt of the career that I’ve had' — Harrington as enthusiastic as ever ahead of 500th DP World Tour start
Pádraig Harrington makes his 500th DP World Tour appearance in Qatar this week. Picture: Getty Images
Pádraig Harrington insists he remains “as big a golf nerd as you can get” as he makes his 500th DP World Tour appearance in the Qatar Masters.
The Dubliner (54) made his professional debut in the Smurfit European Open at The K Club in October 1995 and while he missed the cut there, he realised after banking £1,865 for playing poorly and still finishing 49th in the FNB Players Championship in Durban the following February that he could make a living at the game.
“That was a lot of money to me and I hadn’t even played that well,” Harrington said of his early days. "I called home and said, ‘Mum, they’re just giving money away out here,’
“I realised then that if I worked hard, I just might achieve something in this game.”
While he’s played almost 800 professional events worldwide, he’s made €28.47 million from his 499 DP World Tour starts alone and remains as enthusiastic as ever as he chases a 16th DP World Tour win that would make him the oldest winner on tour.
“[Five hundred appearances] isn’t something you envisage or plan for, but it’s nice to get there,” the three-time Major champion said ahead of his first appearance in Doha since 2003.
“It’s nice to come back to a venue you haven’t been for a long time to see the difference and what a great golf course it is.
“It’s in phenomenal condition and it’s a joy to be back. It’s amazing to see how much the course has changed and they’re putting back tees on nearly every hole, which kind of suits it because the rough is heavy, the greens are firm and it’s a nice challenge.”
While he followed a tie for 46th in the no-cut Dubai Invitational with missed weekends in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and last week’s Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship, he remains upbeat about his game and still enjoys competing 30 years after making his professional debut.
“I started a bit later than most people because I didn’t turn pro until I was 24,” he said. “I’m happy to be out here playing on the DP World Tour and I’m still enjoying it.
“I couldn’t have dreamt of the career that I’ve had. I’m quite an optimist and that’s what I love about golf, it always gives you that hope that you’re going to find the secret, and I’m still doing that today.
“I think the most pivotal moment in my career was my first tournament in 1996 as a member, where I got an invite to the European Open in Ireland and three months later, I got an invite to the South African PGA.
"I didn’t play well but I knew my worst was good enough to compete.
“I still have a pure love for the game. I’m fascinated by it, I enjoy it, I love coaching and thinking about the game.
“Twenty years ago, we pretended we weren’t golf nerds, but I’m as big a golf nerd as you can get. I’m here now to try and be competitive, and I know the only way I can do that is to enjoy it.”
Harrington is the lone Irishman in the field in Qatar, where Patrick Reed is looking to continue his hot start to the season after winning in Dubai and losing in a playoff in Bahrain and chase down Jayden Schaper at the top of the Race to Dubai.
On the second-tier HotelPlanner Tour, the 2019 Amateur Championship winner James Sugrue makes his first appearance of 2026 alongside Gary Hurley, Max Kennedy, Conor Purcell and Liam Nolan in the CIRCA Cape Town Open at Royal Cape Golf Club.
Meanwhile, world number one Scottie Scheffler will be looking to make it back-to-back wins to start 2026 in the WM Phoenix Open, where 11 of the world’s top 20 are in action.
