But a 27th career runner-up finish was avoided when the Irishman snatched victory at Palm Beach Gardens after a play-off with Vijay Singh and Joe Ogilvie lasted two extra holes.

“I’ve worked very hard at my game to get to this level,” Harrington said. “It does mean a lot to me now that I’ve done it.”

The omens to pick up a deserved first major appear to be good, with last year’s Honda Classic winner Todd Hamilton going on to win the British Open.

While Harrington will surely be in contention for a major during the remainder of his career, the green jacket could be a possibility next month given his recent form.

Harrington has only recently committed full-time to the US Tour, but took immense pride in becoming the first Irishman to win a title on the tour.

“I’m sure I kept a few pubs open tonight,” he told official site www.pgatour.com “It’s very good to be the first Irishman. Nobody can take that away from me.”

Harrington staged a thrilling comeback to take the title, firing a nine-under-par 63 to equal the course record and force a play-off.

Shooting a stunning final round that included 11 birdies, Harrington finished at 14 under par and at one stage had a chance of breaking 60 for the round.

“When you start making birdies, like I made 10 of the first 13 holes and made six in a row, I’m thinking 59,” Harrington admitted.

“My bubble was burst on 14 where I dropped a shot and I was a little unlucky on 15 to drop a shot.

"Thankfully I birdied 17 and I wasn’t sure if 14 under would be good enough, but it was just enough.”

Ogilvie dropped out of the play-off after the first hole following a bogey. Singh, who last week lost his reign at the top of the world rankings, had the chance of victory but missed a 15-foot birdie attempt at the first extra hole, and bogeyed the second.

“I was a little disappointed,” Singh said. “I hit that putt a little too hard. I should have just rolled it in, it was straight down grain. Obviously you can’t miss putts like that in the play-off.”