mount juliet & royal portrush top our 2012 polls - Backspin Golf ...

Padraig Harringtonwill relish thechallenge of battlinghis way back to topform in 2012.The triple majorwinner turned 40 lastAugust and, as thisfeature highlights,age is no barrier tosuccess in golf.4 | BACKSPINAs he prepares for his first full year ontour in his 40’s and the challenge ofreviving his flagging career, PadraigHarrington is well equipped to bounce backand return to winning ways.His determination, work ethic andstrength of mind are phenomenal and if heneeds further inspiration he could reflecton many amazing achievements by otherseasoned Irish performers over the years.Christy O’Connor Snr was competitiveinto his 50’s and was just a few monthsshort of his 65th birthday when he playedall four days in the Carrolls Irish Open atPortmarnock in 1989.Des Smyth created history at theMadeira Islands Open in 2001 by becomingthe oldest player to win a European Tourevent at the age of 48 years and 34 days.And last summer, at the age of 42 yearsand 337 days, Darren Clarke became theoldest winner of The Open Championshipsince 1967, just a month after a young buckalmost half his age won the US Open atCongressional!At a time in his career when Clarkemight have been giving thought to a lesshectic schedule, suddenly he finds himselfwith opportunities galore and a whole newgame plan for the next few years. Victory inThe Open enabled Clarke to soar 68 placesin the World Rankings, from 98th to 30th,and climb 81 rungs from his end of 2010position.