Padraig Harrington nearly withdrew from the Chubb Classic.
Playing the Black Course at Tiburón Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort sight unseen, he shot a 77 in the first round and followed that up with an even-par 72 on Saturday.
“It’s a tough enough golf course not to know,” Harrington said Saturday. “Some of the green complexes it would’ve been nice to see them, and a few of the doglegs, like 18. I’m still happy to be here.”
Harrington, who turned 50 last August, almost wasn’t.
His uncle died, and he attended the funeral for the 91-year-old in Cork, Ireland. That meant he couldn’t play in either day of the pro-am, and wasn’t going to get into town until Thursday night.
“Yes, it looked like I would withdraw, but they were very accommodating and said, ‘Well, look, you can come and not play the pro-ams,’” he said. “I said, ‘Well, that’s great, I’ll do that.’ It wouldn’t be something that would be usual. They were very accommodating and let me come, and I was thankful for that, and that’s why I’m here.
“It was six hours (of travel),” he said. “It’s been a lot of travel this week.”
Harrington is known for being very meticulous in preparation, but he was able to be flexible.
“I’ve done OK at times in the past, so it’s not ideal, but it’s a bit like routines before you go out,” he said. “You don’t get caught up in everything having to be perfect because things just don’t work out perfect, so that was the case this week.
“I’m delighted that I could come and play. I’m enjoying that element of it.”
Woosnam is third Hall of Famer out
World Golf Hall of Famer Ian Woosnam, a former Masters champion, withdrew after nine holes in Friday’s first round with neck and back issues. He became the third Hall of Famer to withdraw.
Davis Love III withdrew on Monday, and two-time tournament champion Fred Couples withdrew with back issues Wednesday.
Greg Hardwig is a sports reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press, part of the USA Today Network. Follow him on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: @NDN_Ghardwig, email him at ghardwig@naplesnews.com.