Padraig Harrington’s 5 finest moments as he makes Golf Hall of Fame

Padraig Harrington is a memorable title on this planet {of professional} golf. The Irishman can be inducted into this 12 months’s Golf Hall of Fame for his illustrious profession.

He turned professional in 1995 and joined the PGA Tour in 2005. Harrington has amassed 6 PGA Tour wins, 15 victories on the European Tour, six runner-up finishes, two third locations, 31 top-5s, and 56 top-10s. He made the minimize 225 instances in 343 begins, which implies he performed the weekend 65% of the time.

Not to say, the 6-time PGA Tour winner was on 4 successful Ryder Cup groups for Europe.

Harrington can be a three-time main champion, having gained the 2007 Open at Carnoustie, the 2008 Open at Royal Birkdale, and the 2008 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills.

He paved the best way for a lot of Irish golfers. Rory McIlroy famous that Harrington’s main championship run opened many doors.

“Pádraig was the one who made us all imagine that we might do it, that we might comply with in his footsteps and win main championships,” McIlroy informed the Irish Golfer.

“If anybody talks about Pádraig, he’s the final word professional. He has hit far more balls than I’ve in my life and I’ll by no means catch as much as him. He loves golf; he loves all the things about it, he loves attempting to enhance.”

The 52-year-old is a infamous vary rat who will attempt something to enhance his golf sport. Harrington has begun sharing tidbits and drills on the vary on his social media channels to assist the common golfer, too.

So to honor Harrington, we’ve mirrored on his high 5 finest moments from his Hall of Fame profession:

Photo by Rebecca Naden – PA Images/PA Images through Getty Images

5: 1999 Ryder Cup debut efficiency

Harrington certified for his first Ryder Cup in 1999 at Brookline, probably the most well-known iterations in historical past. He contributed a good 1.5 factors from three matches.

Miguel Ángel Jiménez and Harrington had been paired for the opening spherical of matches. They claimed a half-a-point towards Davis Love III and Payne Stewart.

In Saturday’s foursomes, he and Jiménez performed collectively once more, however they fell to Tiger Woods and Steve Pate 1 Up.

On Sunday, he beat Mark O’Meara 1 Up in single matches, bringing Europe’s factors complete to 13-10. Harrington thought he holed the successful putt as a result of Jose Maria Olazabal was 4 Up when he completed his match.

However, Justin Leonard would ultimately construct a large comeback and holed a large putt on 17 to safe an American win.

While Harrington didn’t assist Team Europe win that 12 months, it might start a really profitable Ryder Cup tenure for him.

Photo credit score ought to learn TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP through Getty Images

4: 2004 Ryder Cup, beating Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson

The fourth finest second of Harrington’s profession got here in 2004 when Team Europe beat Team USA on their residence soil. They gained at Oakland Hills in Michigan, and Harrington was one of many crew’s finest performers that week.

He ranked eighth on this planet then, and one of many week’s largest highlights got here when he and Colin Montgomerie took on Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.

Woods and Mickelson had been paired collectively for the primary time however had been no match for Harrington and Montgomerie. The European duo defeated the heavy-hitters 2 & 1.

Harrington earned 4 factors in 5 matches that week as Team Europe destroyed Team USA 18.5 to 9.5.

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3: Harrington’s newest PGA Tour champions’ Hoag basic win

Harrington already has seven Champions Tour victories underneath his belt, however his newest on the 2024 Hoag Classic Newport Beach was one to recollect.

He went 63-67-69 to win at 14-under and triumph by one stroke over Thongchai Jaidee. Miguel Angel Jiménez completed in third at 12-under.

His journey within the mini Aston Martin made this dramatic victory one so as to add to this record. Although he has gained a lot all through his profession, how he celebrated made this one memorable.

A double-bogey on 16 through the closing spherical brought about him to path Jaidee and Jimenez by one shot. Harrington drained an unimaginable 20-foot birdie on the par 3 seventeenth to take a seat tied for the lead with one to play.

He completed sturdy on 18, however his celebration was the very best half. Harrington gave among the best fist pumps because the ball fell into the outlet.

He additionally drove the mini sports activities automotive across the Newport Beach Country Club to have a good time. It was a fantastic second for Harrington, who confirmed off his persona after one other unimaginable victory.

Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images

2: Padraig Harrington’s 2008 PGA Championship victory

His third main championship was a large second for Harrington. He gained the 2008 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills with a closing 3-under rating.

That was ok to beat Sergio Garcia and Ben Curtis by two pictures.

This victory additionally marked his second consecutive main of 2008 after he gained his second straight Claret Jug.

Harrington turned the primary European in 78 years to win the PGA Championship. He was additionally the primary Irish golfer to win this main championship.

Photo by Cathal Noonan/INPHO through Getty Images

1: Back-to-back Open Championships for Padraig Harrington

Harrington’s back-to-back Open wins are fingers down the very best moments of his profession.

The Irishman additionally took down two heavy hitters to get these two majors. In 2007, at Carnoustie, he got here from behind to defeat Sergio Garcia in a dramatic playoff.

Harrington got here from six pictures again when a sensational eagle on 14 allowed him to take a one-shot benefit. He made a double-bogey on 18, and Garcia made a bogey himself, which put a playoff on the desk.

He birdied the primary playoff gap to beat Garcia and lift his first Claret Jug.

The following 12 months, Harrington defeated Greg Norman to win back-to-back Open titles. He nearly didn’t play due to a sprained wrist, however he did the unthinkable and defended his title at Royal Birkdale.

Harrington was tied for second and two pictures behind Norman, who held the lead on Sunday. However, Ian Poulter proved to be the most important competitor that day. The two Ryder Cup stalwarts traded blows, however Harrington made an eagle on 17 to place Poulter to mattress.

He is the final to win back-to-back Claret Jugs after Tiger Woods did it in 2005 and 2006.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For extra golf protection, make sure to comply with us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You may also comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.