Padraig Harrington
Height: 6 ft. 1 in
Weight: 190 lbs
Birthday: 08/31/1971
College: Dublin Business College
Turned Pro: 1995
Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland
Country: Ireland
Sponsor: Wilson Staff
Harrington had a successful career as an amateur having played in the Walker Cup in three successive renewals including being on the victorious side in 1995. He turned pro shortly after and earned his full European Tour card for the 1996 season. He won in his rookie season at the Peugeot Spanish Open by four shots. He ended his debut season 11th on the money list. It took him a number of years to win again and the Irishman finished runner-up a staggering 22 times on the European Tour between 1999 and 2006. He would win twice in 2000 and have a further four top 3 finishes. Over the next four seasons, Harrington would win six times and be runner-up 11 times on his way to ending each year no lower than 3rd on the Order of Merit.
Harrington joined the PGA Tour in 2004 and came close to winning the Buick Classic but lost out to Sergio Garcia in a play-off. The following year he would capture his first and second PGA Tour wins, at the Honda Classic (after a play-off) and the Barclays Classic. Harrington became only the second ever Irishman to win a Major Championship when he won the British Open in 2007 at Carnoustie after a play-off with Sergio Garcia. This added to the Irish Open title he had won a few weeks previously, the first Irishman to win his native open in 25 years. He would successfully defend his British Open title the following year at Royal Birkdale, this time coasting to victory by four shots. Harrington won his third Major a few weeks later at the PGA Championship after shooting 66 on both the Saturday and the Sunday. He was the first European winner of the event in 78 years. He was the European Tour Player of the Year for both 2007 and 2008.
He went through bit of a slump after 2008 and it wasn’t until the 2015 season that he would capture another Tour title, coming at the Honda Classic after a play-off. Other career highlights include winning the world Cup for Ireland in 1997 with Paul McGinley, representing Europe in the Ryder Cup on six occasions (winning four) and being the PGA Tour Player of the Year in 2008.
