Harrington victory - Open win a memorable day for Irish

Yesterday was certainly a great day for the Irish and the most memorable of days for Irish golf.

Pádraig Harrington did what he has been threatening to do for some years; he won one of golf’s four major championships.

He became the first man from Dublin to win the British Open since the great Ben Hogan in 1953, but there could hardly be any comparison with the rejoicing in this country as the tricolour was held aloft after the victory, because, of course, Hogan was from Dublin, Texas. It is exactly 60 years since Fred Daly became the first, and hitherto only, Irishman to win the British Open.