Padraig Harrington voices frustration over ‘ridiculous’ major championship schedule
NORTH BERWICK, SCOTLAND - JULY 9: Padraig Harrington plays from the thirteenth tee during Round 1 of the Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club, North Berwick on July 9, 2026 in North Berwick, Scotland Genesis Scottish Open Round 1
NORTH BERWICK, SCOTLAND - JULY 9: Padraig Harrington plays from the thirteenth tee during Round 1 of the Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club, North Berwick on July 9, 2026 in North Berwick, Scotland Genesis Scottish Open Round 1
With the end of the Open Championship, the major season of 2026 is over. The fans have begun their wait for next year’s Masters, but three-time major winner Padraig Harrington does not want to wait that long.
Just four months separate Augusta National and The Open. As a result, Harrington pointed out that the major calendar is “way too condensed.” To him, the Open is out of place.
“It’s ridiculous that we’re waiting until April for the next major. The Open gets no benefit out of being the fourth major of the year. They don’t play the three major champions together; it’s not known as the last chance,” said Harrington to Bunkered.
Harrington believes the current calendar has stripped both The Open and the PGA Championship of traditions that once made each tournament feel unique within the major rotation, as reported by John Turnbull of Bunkered.
SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND - JULY 16: Padraig Harrington IRE plays from the second tee during Round 1 of the 154th Open Championship at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport on July 16, 2026 in Merseyside, England The 154th British Open Championship
SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND - JULY 16: Padraig Harrington IRE plays from the second tee during Round 1 of the 154th Open Championship at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport on July 16, 2026 in Merseyside, England The 154th British Open Championship
The PGA Championship was long known as "Glory's Last Shot.” It used to be the last major of the season played in the August heat.
However, in 2019, it was shifted to May, and the Open became the season-ending major.
The traditional marquee group of the reigning Masters, U.S. Open, and Open Championship winner battling out for the Wanamaker Trophy was gone. The gap between the major seasons extended as well.
For Harrington, that change altered more than just the dates. It changed how fans experienced the major season.
“I grew up and played in the PGA Championship at the end of August, when it was the last chance to win a major," Harrington added. "You’ve got the three major champions playing together, sweltering hot. That’s what we think of the PGA. It’s a big gap, it’s too long, definitely too long between The Open and The Masters.”
Harrington believes returning the PGA Championship to its pre-2019 slot would restore one of golf's defining traditions, allowing the reigning major champions to play together in the season's final major.
Harrington will now head to The Senior Open to defend his title.
Padraig Harrington on his strategy for The Senior Open
After a missed cut at Royal Birkdale, Harrington will look to assert his dominance at King's Course. The three-time major winner believes accuracy, not aggression, will be the key to defending his title at Gleneagles.
“It’s definitely a week you want to hit the ball on the fairway, hit it straight. So, if I have to be a little defensive off the tee, then fair enough," Harrington said in the same interview. "Hopefully, I’ll be in position with nine holes to go and be in with a chance of winning.”
Last year, the Irishman came out on top at Sunningdale after beating Denmark's Thomas Bjorn and the US' Justin Leonard by three shots.
After winning his third senior major at Sunningdale last year, Harrington now heads to Gleneagles chasing title No. 5.
Do you think the major season schedule should go back to what it was before 2019? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Written by
Avishek Sarkar
Edited by
Rudra Dubey