Harrington, McIlroy... Cutler: Future of Irish golf in safe hands

WHEN Graeme McDowell was asked this weekend what they put in the water in Ireland to produce so many major champions in such a short space of time, he pointed to a tall figure emerging from the clubhouse.

Gesticulating in the direction of three-time major winner Pádraig Harrington, McDowell said: “Pádraig won three majors. They build us tough in Ireland and Rory has got some serious talent in his body and it’s great to see him.”

McIlroy’s triumph last night, following on from McDowell’s win at last year’s US Open, added to Harrington’s British Open wins at Carnoustie and Royal Birkdale and his US PGA victory at Oakland Hills, Ireland has claimed five of the last 16 majors, a truly astonishing statistic.