Harrington’s victories - New tiger on the block

Pádraig Harrington came storming through at the finish to retain the British Open last month, despite his wrist injury. He went one better last Sunday.

In the midst of all the Olympic coverage Pádraig’s victory was akin to winning a third gold medal. He became the first Irishman in half a century to win the British Open last year, and became the first Irishman to retain the title last month, and he became the first Irishman to win one of the major golf titles in the US.

Harrington’s two previous major triumphs were on links courses, while his victory at Oakland Hills was on what the Americans consider their toughest course. As the first European to win the tournament since 1930 he has clearly established himself as a golfing phenomenon.

The fact that Tiger Woods was missing from the last two tournaments has added something to Harrington’s wins in that he has, in a sense, become the personification of the Celtic Tiger. The golfing world now looks forward to the next meeting of these two golfing tigers.

The two of them have come head-to-head before in the final round for the $1 million (€670,000) prize in California for Target World Challenge in 2002 and in the play-off of the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in Japan in 2006. Pádraig Harrington won both.

In the midst of recent economic setbacks, one Celtic Tiger is doing us all proud on the world stage.