Harrington handed tour award
British Open golfing champion Padraig Harrington was tonight crowned the July European Tour Golfer of the Month.
He was chosen for the accolade after securing his first major victory by beating Spain’s Sergio Garcia in a four-hole play-off at the Carnoustie course in Scotland last week.
He had also been awarded the May Golfer of the Month for his performance at the Irish Open.
Speaking at the the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club, Akron, Ohio, Harrington said: “I am delighted to receive this honour after a month which underlined the strength of The European Tour.
“The young guns like Andres Romero and Gregory Havret showed what they are capable of while Monty proved he is still a winner.
“A lot of Europeans will definitely be encouraged by my win because they know they can match my game and it will help them visualise the day when they, too, win a major.”
Harrington arrived at Carnoustie having won the Irish PGA Championship for a fourth time.
Despite a double bogey on the final hole, the Dubliner recovered his composure to beat Garcia by a shot in the four-hole play-off.
“Harrington, the first European-born player to win a major championship since Paul Lawrie at the same venue in 1999, earned the accolade at the end of a superb month on The European Tour which saw a number of truly outstanding achievements by tour members,” a European tour spokesman said.
The 35-year-old father of one was given a hero’s welcome when he arrived at the Western Airport, Co Kildare early last week, a day after he was crowned champion.
The popular Dubliner became only the second Irish golfer in history to win the Open title.
The other being Fred Daly, who won it back in 1947.
