Pádraig Harrington was presented with a memento of his 500th DP World Tour start after his opening round at the 2026 Qatar Masters.
The three-time Major Champion became the 50th man to reach the landmark when he teed it up at Doha Golf Club, marking the occasion with a one-under-par 71 helped by birdies at the ninth and tenth holes.
The 136th and 137th Open Championships, in 2007 and 2008, and the latter year's US PGA Championship account for three of Harrington's 15 DP World Tour wins while he also won his home Irish Open in 2007, spent over 300 weeks in the top ten of the Official World Golf Rankings from 2001 to 2010 and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in June 2024.
These days Harrington admits he plays for the enjoyment of the game - but was quick to push back on suggestions of being "fearless" on the course.
“Oh no, I’m full of fear!" he said. "It’s not being fearless, it’s the opposite of fearless! I played much better with fear so you just have to accept it and get on with it.
“I would say enjoying it is the only way I can do it now. I think as a younger man I worked hard, I’d grind, I dug in, hit lots of balls, did all the things you’re supposed to do as a young man, but I can’t keep that pace up.
“Now I just look to enjoy my weeks, have a bit more enjoyment around the golf. I do as much work as I can but not the same as I used to be able to.
“On the golf course I can still get frustrated when things don’t go right but overall I enjoy the experience maybe more than I would have in my younger days.”
Harrington is making his first appearance at this event since 2003 and said: “It’s hard to remember back that far!
“The golf course is in great condition, it’s a lovely course. It’s improved over the years, there’s some new tees out there.
"It doesn’t seem quite as difficult as it did back then, I remember it being very windy back in the day – I’m sure that hasn’t changed, but the golf course certainly has matured into itself.”
