Golfing legend Jack Nicklaus says Ireland's Padraig Harrington is the nearest replacement to Tiger Woods.
Woods - who recently announced an indefinite break from golf after news of his marital infidelities splashed across the world media - might not make any of the big events for 2010.
A knee injury ruled him out of the 2008 British Open and PGA Championship and Harrington won both of them.
Nicklaus says Harrington is a worthy challenger.
"Harrington seems to do a pretty good job of it, certainly in the last couple of years. In the heat of the battle he has done very well."
Meanwhile, Harrington expects to be battling Woods on the greens sometime soon.
"I expect him back sooner rather than later," he says.
Speaking on Ireland's late Late Show, Harrington revealed that he thought Woods was playing video games when he was reportedly meeting women.
"I used to think he would go back to his hotel room very early and leave the golf course early. I just assumed he was playing video games! I thought his life was quite boring."
"You don't get to know Tiger Woods. He's defensive. He's always been somebody who keeps himself to himself. He would very rarely be in the locker room and very rarely be mixing.
"Everybody wants something from him. If (Woods) comes into the locker room, players are asking for autographs. So you just don't see much of Tiger Woods."
3 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.mcpandt | Jan 06, 2010, 09:48 PM EST
After several years of not watching the tour, tired of the Tiger Woods bandwagon, I heard about Padraig during a trip to Ireland in 2003 and started watching golf again whenever he was in contention. I had the pleasure of following him at Bay Hill last year and he is a class act. He may not have all the natural ability of Tiger or the perfect golf swing, but the man is a grinder with great touch around the greens. To top it off he seems down to earth and engaging. Every few holes he was looking for a youngster in the crowd to give a souvenier golf ball to. Tiger may have the major titles, but Padraig is a gentleman with character, which is hard to find in professional sports these days.
JoeAnnie | Jan 06, 2010, 07:14 PM EST
One Day at a time Padraig, Your good and we love you. Enjoy your family, your golf and keep your own life on the right tee.
killowen | Jan 06, 2010, 11:49 AM EST
HARRINGTON, I DON'T THINK SO. Irish achievers can't handle being on top for themselves. Although you'll see how successful they can be if guided by a foreigner. This is probably a throw back to having their lands taken by the occupier Saxon (over an 800 year of such).