Padraig Harrington honoured as Golf Champion

2007 Open golf Champion Padraig Harrington had double reason to celebrate on the day of the birth of his second son Ciaran - the Dubliner was honoured with the prestigious European Tour golfer-of-the-year title.

The Irishman is 20s to follow up his Open victory with another Claret Jug in 2008 with Bodog.
Harrington was narrowly pipped to the title last year as he mysteriously lost out to cocky Englishman Paul Casey even though he won the 2006 Order of Merit. However, sanity was restored this year as Harrington gained rightful recognition for his stunning Open Championship play-off victory over Sergio Garcia.

Harrington became the first Irishman in over 60 years to claim the Claret Jug. Fred Daly was the last Irish winner when he triumphed at Hoylake in 1947. That win wasnt Harrington´s only success in 2007. he claimed his national title - the Irish Open - at Adare Manor, beating Bradley Dredge in a play-off.

In the ET golfer of the year voting, Harrington finished ahead of US Open champion Angel Cabrera and European number one Justin Rose. Keep an eye on "Porridge" at Tiger´s forthcoming Target World Golf Challenge, he loves the event having won it in 2002 and finishing runner-up in 2004.