This is a special event for Ireland, says Harrington

STRAFFAN, Ireland, Sep 21 (Reuters) European Ryder Cup player Padraig Harrington said the team event was having a significant impact on the promotion of golf in his native Ireland.

''The Ryder Cup has come to Ireland and non-golfers are getting very excited about it,'' Harrington told reporters at the K Club.

''Non-golfers are aware, non-golfers are interested.

''The whole purpose of this friendly exhibition is to promote golf outside the normal arena and it is certainly succeeding in doing that in Ireland. Hopefully it will also succeed in doing that through the television coverage around the world.'' Harrington offered up a personal anecdote to support his theory.

''A kid was going down the fairway at practice and he shouted at me: 'Mister'. You just wouldn't here that at a regular golf event,'' said the 35-year-old.

''I may be prejudging him by his accent and what he said but the likelihood is there is a guy there that might grow up to love golf and it could make an impact on his life.'' Harrington also played in the biennial team competition in 1999, 2002 and 2004 but said this week was special.

''It is a bit different because it is in Ireland, or at least I see it as being different,'' said the Dubliner.

''It is reaching out to more people 45,000 people is a lot of people to come to a golf event every day for five, six days.

''So, yeah, it is making quite a difference in that sense.'' Reuters DH GC1728