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Ireland's Padraig Harrington during day four of the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. PA Archive/Press Association Images

Padraig Harrington reveals he's had treatment for skin cancer

The three-time major winner lost his father, Patrick, to cancer and said that he wanted to raise awareness of the disease.

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.”

- © AFP, 2014

Additional reporting by Paul Fennessy

First published at 12.33

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