Former European Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington believes the future of golf won't be decided in the gym. Fresh off his successful U.S. Senior Open title defense, the Irishman shared what he thinks will separate the next generation of players from the rest.

Harrington was top-notch down the closing stretch, and that helped him secure his third U.S. Senior Open title. When asked for advice, the Irishman believed that the mental aspect of the game would be the defining factor in the years to come.

“You know, it’s so easy to become good at this game physically now with the technology that’s out there. What will set young people apart going forward will be their imagination, their resilience,” said Harrington.

“Right at this moment, the game has become more physical than it’s ever been. Well, that’s going to change once it gets to the saturation point of everybody is a good swinger of the golf club,” he added, as reported by Bunkered.

Originally, golf was not associated with athleticism. Rather, it was considered more of a “skill game.” However, arguably with the rise of Tiger Woods, golfers started focusing on their off-course training.

Golf stars like Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau shifted the sport's culture toward the gym. Organizations like the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) came around with their data-driven programs. Despite all this, Harrington believed that the game would return to what it once was.

“It’s going to revert back to who’s got the mental fortitude, the imagination. If I was working with juniors, I would be fully on, as much as I do my YouTube lessons, the mental side of the game and their attitude and their ability to go out there and enjoy it,” said Harrington.

With the overemphasis on the physical aspect of the game at the moment, the mental aspect will turn out to be the game-changer, according to the Irishman.

Golfing greats like Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Ben Hogan have often pointed out the importance of mental fortitude in the game.

“Golf is a game that is played on a five-inch course — the distance between your ears,” said Bobby Jones, the legendary amateur.

Harrington backed up those beliefs with another historic performance at Scioto Country Club.

Harrington's record-making win at the US Senior Open

Harrington became just the second player after Miller Barber to win the U.S. Senior Open three times and also became the fourth golfer to defend the title.

"I like creating records, and to be part of that is a big deal. It just shows how hard it is," Harrington said after the win, as per Bunkered.

The Irishman finished at 12-under 268, which secured him a four-shot win over the U.S.' Stewart Cink at Scioto Country Club.

What are your thoughts on Harrington’s advice? Share them in the comments.

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Written by

Avishek Sarkar

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav