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Irish America magazine - Oct/Nov '08 issue: The Legacy of the San Patricios Lives On , Stars of the South, The Legal 100, Roots: The Mighty Mahers, All Hail The Humble Spud! , Music: Still Fiddlin’ Away , The Real Bill , The Battle over Ulysses, Broadway's Irish Colleen
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 Harrington Is a Major Winner
When Irish America featured Padraig Harrington on the cover of the October/
November 2007 issue after his first win of a major at the British Open, it
was to celebrate one Irishman’s entry into the elite club of major winners.
A little over 12 months later, Harrington moved into the super league of
that club, by not only repeating the British Open triumph but also winning
the U.S. PGA three weeks later at Oakland Hills in Detroit. Only Tiger Woods
has matched this feat in the same year this century.
If Harrington’s second British Open win was due to a dream back-nine
performance, his win at the PGA was testament to his mental fortitude. With
leader Sergio Garcia playing beautiful golf in his final round, it was
Harrington who willed himself to victory. The 37-year-old Dubliner kept
close early in the round with amazing bunker play before holing huge putts
in the final holes to clinch victory.
“I love the idea of the back nine of a major on a Sunday,” Harrington said
after winning the PGA. “I love it so much that I’m actually disappointed I’m
seven months away from the next major, and I don’t know what I’m going to
do.
“I’ve really focused hard on the majors the last two years. My whole
schedule is built around majors. And definitely I’ve turned up at other
events, and unless I get into contention, you know, sometimes it feels like
a race, like a sprint. Whereas a major feels like a marathon.
 “I really do like the fact that no other European has won two majors
consecutively, because obviously I hold a lot of European players who I grew
up watching in high esteem. To believe that I achieved something that they
hadn’t is very special.”
Harrington now takes his place among the greatest Irish sports figures of
all time, and praise for his accomplishment was effusive.
“Coming so soon after his brilliant win in the British Open, this was a
fantastic achievement by Padraig,” said Irish President Mary McAleese of him
winning the Wanamaker trophy. “Padraig just goes from strength to strength.
The whole country is immensely proud of him.”
Taoiseach Brian Cowen also congratulated the Dubliner. “To win two British
Opens back to back is quite an achievement, but to win two majors back to
back is absolutely incredible. To become the first Irishman to win a major
in the U.S. ensures his place in sporting history and legend. Yet again
Padraig’s performance on the back nine of a major epitomized everything
about the man – skill, courage, determination and sheer class.”
– Declan O’Kelly
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