The Irish golf legend is a three-time US Senior Open champion and is still flying high at the age of 55.
17:33, 01 Sep 2026Updated 17:39, 01 Sep 2026
Lee Sharpe(Image: Power Sport Images/Getty Images)
Padraig Harrington has been described as “incredible” by a three-time Premier League winner who wants to join the Irishman on the seniors circuit.
Former Manchester United winger Lee Sharpe has swapped his football boots for a pair of golf shoes and has some lofty ambitions.
Sharpe has just moved back to Spain and has joined his local club, where he is working on getting his handicap to a point where he feels he can compete with the best.
“I’m off one at the moment,” he told MirrorSport, speaking via Netbet.
“So I’m back in Spain, we have rented a place next to a golf course, so I have just joined the golf course and I am down there chipping and putting like an idiot, trying to get my handicap down to plus figures.”
The former wing wizard is 55, just like Harrington, and has long been obsessed with golf.
Despite his United manager Alex Ferguson warning his players of the perils of playing the sport – Sharpe once revealed how Fergie feared the swing motion would lead to back injuries – he used to sneak off for regular rounds during his time at the club.
These days he plays with his son, while he turns to legends of the past for inspiration.
Manchester United captain Bryan Robson (c) celebrates with Mike Phelan (l) and Lee Sharpe (r) after the 1991 UEFA European Cup Winners Cup final win against Barcelona(Image: Simon Bruty/Allsport/Getty Images)
“I’ve got a couple of young kids, eight and nine. My lad plays football and I’ve just got him into golf. I am trying to edge him to golf,” he said.
My daughter has not found her sport yet, but she is playing a bit of paddle and doing gymnastics.”
Why golf?
“Just so I can play with him! I’m too old to play football with him,” replied Sharpe.
“He’s at a football club where we are in Spain and they start training in a week or two. He’ll do a couple of nights training with them and then play a game on Saturday.
“When he comes home from school we try to get nine holes in every evening.
“I am trying to get my handicap down, I am trying to get on the seniors, maybe. I’m just an addicted golfer who is always trying to get his handicap down, so we’ll see where it goes.
“This (getting to scratch) is probably the hardest step. You’ve got to make the right decisions and not put yourself in too much trouble, and make sure you don’t mess around.”
As for the prospect of one day taking on Irish golfing legend Harrington, Sharpe said: “That would be amazing. He is incredible, that bloke. I love him.”
When it comes to his golfing idols, he added: “I’m a bit of an old-school golf fan.
“Obviously I like Rory (McIlroy), Jake Knapp, I quite like to watch his swing, but I’m more of a Fred Couples, John Daly, Ben Hogan, Davis Love, I like his swing… so there are a few of the old-timers that I love, players that were around when I got into golf a long time ago.”
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