Harrington retains another title

After a 2008 season which brought both a successful defence of his Open title and victory in the USPGA championship, Padraig Harrington has been named European Tour Golfer of the Year for the second successive time.

In an unprecedented three week spell in mid-summer, peaking in July when he overcame a wrist injury, the 37 year old Dubliner successfully defended The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale to retain the Claret Jug ? the first European golfer to achieve the feat since Scotland?s James Braid in 1905-06. Just three weeks later he became the first European golfer since Scotland?s Tommy Armour in 1930 to win the US PGA Championship at Oakland Hills.

These achievements prompted European Tour chief executive George O?Grady to claim that Harrington was the greatest sportsmen in Ireland?s history, but Harrington said he would rather leave such debates until the end of his career.