Major expectations as hungry Harrington raises bar

IT was some achievement for Padraig Harrington to be voted Sports Personality of the Year by the people of Ireland.

Given the massive volume of support for gaelic football and hurling and the near hysteria associated with the Irish soccer team, especially in a World Cup year, I would have put my bottom dollar on the award going to one or other of those activities.

Instead, the public in their wisdom opted for a golfer, and they couldn’t have chosen a more worthy recipient. Not alone has Padraig Harrington proved himself on the world stage with victories in Asia, the United States (where he finished in the top ten in two of their three major championships before eventually whipping Tiger Woods in his own backyard) and Europe, but he came across as a wonderful ambassador for his country, a point well made by several speakers at the RTE bash.