Updated at 12.50
IRISH GOLFER PADRAIG Harrington has said that he has undergone treatment for skin cancer.
The three-time major winner lost his father, Patrick, to cancer and said that he wanted to raise awareness after undergoing surgery to remove ‘sun spots’.
“I’ve had a number of skin cancers removed off my face,” he told Today FM on Thursday, in comments reported by several British media outlets.
“When you get a symptom, don’t ignore it. Do something about it.”
Harrington pulled out of the 2005 Open at St Andrews after his father died from oesophageal cancer. He subsequently became patron of the Oesophageal Cancer Fund Ireland.
“Dealing with cancer is not what it was 10 years ago,” he added. “Everybody responds differently to treatment and ways of treating cancer are moving on.
“I see that when I travel the world. It is easier to clear these things up at the start rather than waiting until there is a problem. You can get treated and go on to live a much longer life.”
Meanwhile, on the subject of his recent golfing form, Harrington expressed frustration.
“All I’ve done in the last couple of years is strengthened my weaknesses and weakened my strengths. I’m not as good around the greens as I used to be. I’m not putting as well, chipping as well or pitching as well.”
However, he rejected the suggestion that he’s been guilty of over-analysing his game of late, saying: “I haven’t changed anything. I’ve always over-analysed everything. It got me three majors.”
Additional reporting by Paul Fennessy
First published at 12.33
I have only respect for the man for keeping it quiet for so long considering his profession. Fair play for speaking out about it, the more high profile people who speak out about these things the more people become aware of the symptoms.
He was trying to promote oesophageal cancer awareness – fair dues to him – I was diagnosed in 2006 when I was 32. Problems with swallowing are some of the symptoms that should be investigated. I am very lucky to be still here.
Love the man great sportsman and also a great Irishman
Recently he has being playing well and showing signs of improving. What sn ambassador we have in golf. Always shows up for his country and for special caused. Thank you Paddy.
If I could hit my 3 wood like Padraig could hit his 8 iron id be very smug :)
Strictly speaking about the golf. His form has been poor, really poor. Like he says he’s not overanalysing his game yet he took out a level on a practice green!! He says he won three majors by changing his game. That’s fair enough, but is the point of experimenting not to find your groove and what your good at and maximise it?? I still have a sneaky feeling he will pull one major off, but not unless he gets his head back in the game!
That headline was a bit missleading, this was common knowledge at the time that he took just a couple of weeks off to get a good few potentially malignant sun spots surgically removed from his face. He even had the bandages still on. Fair play to him for nipping it in the bud but he didn’t get cancer treatment per se. Plus he has the money to get these things sorted ASAP.