Mega-rich Padraig Harrington launched his Charitable Foundation yesterday and confessed: “I realise just how lucky I am.”

Multimillionaire Harrington has earned €11.3 million on the European Tour alone since he turned professional in 1995.

Add in his tournaments earnings around the world, his lucrative sponsorship deals and other earnings and he has banked almost double that.

Now the World No 6 is determined to put something back by launching the Padraig Harrington Charitable Foundation - kicking off with a special Padraig Harrington Charity Golf Show on January 21.

He said: “Through the success on the golf course my wife Caroline and I have financially and otherwise got everything you could want.

“Because of that I would get 10 requests a week that are charity related. You are constantly reminded of other people’s misfortunes and hardships.

“On my end everything is so rosy and everything is going so well and on the other you are seeing that it is not the same of everybody and there are a lot of people who need support,

“I would love to do more. I try to do as much as I can but it is never enough. You always wish you could do more so this is a great way to do more.”

His first move has been to organise the indoor Padraig Harrington Charity and Golf Show sponsored by Kartel and 02, at City West Hotel in Saggart on January 21 for a limited audience of almost 1,500.

ALL proceeds will go to charity and tickets, priced €50 and €65 for adults and €30 for children under 16, will be on sale through Ticketmaster outlets nationwide, online at www.ticketmaster.ie or by calling 0818 - 719300.

Like Tiger Woods, Harrington hopes to use his Foundation to help a number of deserving charities such as St Lukes Hospital, St John of God, GOAL, Guide Dogs for the Blind or the Variety Club of Ireland.

He added; “”I’ve been thinking of the Foundation a while and the golf show for maybe a year. It will be on a smaller scale to Tiger’s foundation but you have got to start small and work your way up.

“This is the first initiative and anything can happen in the future. In the future there could be a possible golf event but that is a long way off.

“During the year I will do a number of charity events. Most of those charities will be supported from the foundation, I might do ten days during the year but I might be asked to do 50.

“I can play as much as I like and be in contention but he most stressful thing is the talking and the outside work. They actually take the most out of me.

“When I should be resting and practising that work takes a lot out of me. But this way I can support all those charities. There is nothing worse than having to say no because you need to rest.”

Harrington is constantly asked to give golf clinics for charity and he will get a chance to do it on a a major scale when he turns up at City West Hotel on January 21 for a special clinic.

He explained: “Nothing is going to be complicated in this. But I will give them new perception of what they should be doing. It will be stuff that if they stick with it they will change their golf game.

“A lot of people have asked me for lessons and clinics but unless you are a corporation you are not going to hire me for the day.

“This is a way I can go to a lot of my supporters and fans who travel to tournament to watch me to give them a lesson and give them an idea of what I am doing.

“The other reason I am doing this is that I love coaching . If I weren’t a professional golfer would be a coach of some kind.

“I spent six years with Bob Torrance totally remodelling my swing. I had always tinkered up to that in the eight years before that.

“I have learnt how to swing a golf club. Some people naturally swing a golf club well. I have learned to do it. I have a good understanding of what they need to do or what they should be doing. If there are a beginner it is a new way to start. It will certainly open their eyes.”

Those who turn up on the day are guaranteed to come away with a new outlook on the swing and should improve their games.”

But “coach” Harrington also took time out yesterday to analyse the games of a resurgent Tiger Woods and Spanish legend Seve Ballesteros.

On Woods he said: “Tiger hit the ball superbly in 2000 but he could swing the club better. The swing he had was more than effective but he is so keen to improve and be the ultimate golfer.

“If I was doing something wrong I would change my swing no matter how well I was hitting the ball. You have to take a step backwards to take two steps forward.”

As for Ballesteros, he feels that the Spaniard simply lost the hunger to be the best after 20 years at the top.

He said: “For most of the great players 20 years is burnout out time. They don’t wake up in the morning nervous. You have to be nervous and have the adrenaline to play great golf.

“I grew up watching Seve and if he hit one in the trees he would run off the tee and run down into the trees.

“He would be looking at all angles how he could cut draw and hit this thing and make birdie. He was so excited being in the trees he just loved it. He used to laugh at other pros just chipping out.

“Now Seve hits in the trees and he has ten practice swings trying to work out why he hit it in the trees. Twenty years ago he couldn't care less why.

“Now he is more concerned about the swing. It is a change in mentality. A good golf coach can tell everybody how to swing a golf club. You can’t tell Seve how to swing a golf club.”