The Golf Watch

Harrington wins player of the year

Padraig Harrington received one of the highest honors from his peers, winning PGA Tour player of the year.  Harrington is the first European player to win the award since its inception in 1990.  The PGA Tour does not release vote totals, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was a close race between Harrington and Tiger Woods.

Andrew Romero won rookie of the year.  He captured his first PGA Tour win earlier this year in New Orleans, but his strong performances at the four major championships probably sealed the deal. He made the cut in all four. 

Dudley Hart won comeback player of the year.  Think he can pull a Stricker?

Harrington sticks with Wilson, extends contract

It is an all too common story.  A PGA Tour professional plays with one manufacturer, wins a bunch of tournaments, gets a bigger offer from another equipment dealer, and subsequently, his game tanks. 

Padraig Harrington avoided that problem altogether by re-signing with Wilson Wednesday.  The move shows a lot about Harrington's committment to the brand and his game, rather than opting for a bigger name company that would offer more moolah.  Steve Pike of The Examiner writes:

Harrington has been a Wilson Staff player since 1998 but after his two major victories this season, industry speculation had him moving on to a more high-profile company. But Harrington's new contract proves two things: That he's happy with Wilson Golf equipment, which should help validate Wilson product in the market place; and that Wilson and its parent, Finland-based Amer Group, are serious about the future of Wilson Golf.

Pike adds that Harrington's deal with Wilson set a record for the company, "meaning that Harrington will likely be paid double the $2 million annual salary believed was in his previous contract."

Harrington steps up in Tiger's absence

Even though ratings and attendance dropped at most tournaments this summer, at least someone stepped up in Tiger Woods' absence.  Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press elaborates on this topic in his post-championship commentary after Padraig Harrington's win:

But Harrington’s biggest accomplishment was rescuing a golf summer diagnosed as gravely ill upon Woods’ decision to have reconstructive knee surgery following his exhilarating playoff victory at the U.S. Open. It created a vacuum, but also provided an opportunity. Yet the PGA and Oakland Hills feared a public stamp of illegitimacy to these proceedings, reflective in poor attendance numbers and a generally apathetic tone for any golf event that doesn’t include Woods.

But Sunday’s finish had the two things the PGA and Oakland Hills prayed for most — high drama with high name recognition.

Now, I think we all want to see a Harrington-Woods showdown on the back-9 at Augusta come April.

Harrington wins PGA, second straight major

Padraig Harrington has proven that he is one of the most clutch back-9 performers in major championship history.  He carded a 4-under 66 with four birdies on the back to win by two strokes over Sergio Garcia and Ben Curtis.

Oh yeah, and Padraig's round clocked in at 5 hours and 20 minutes. 

Read the story that just came over the wire here.

Harrington backs Monty for Ryder Cup team

Colin Montgomerie's case for being on the Ryder Cup team in September definitely improved with the support of British Open champ Padraig Harrington.  In the Scottish Herald, Harrington said:

Now that I'm in the team, I hope to tee it up with Monty in the Ryder Cup at Valhalla.  I look forward to playing with anybody in the team, but going back to the last couple of games I played with Monty, he would certainly be a pick of mine.

As of July 20, Montgomerie is ranked 15th in the standings.

Hewitt: He’s certain now in my mind to be a Ryder Cup captain

After Padraig Harrington's win, Brian Hewitt of The Golf Channel looked ahead and provided this interesting fact which Peter Oosterhuis called "scary":

He’s certain now in my mind to be a Ryder Cup captain someday, now that he’s won two Open championships in a row…Padraig Harrington is still the only European to win a major championship in this century. 

Harrington goes back-to-back at the Open Championship

Padraig Harrington was impressive down the stretch yet again this year, successfully defending his Open crown at Royal Birkdale.  Harrington joins an elite group of back-to-back Open winners of the last 50 years--Palmer, Trevino, Watson, and Woods.

Harrington downgraded to '50-50'

According to a Telegraph article, Padraig Harrington believes he has a 50-50 chance of completing his defense of the Open Championship.  Lewine Mair examines the wrist situation:

Although he put his chances of teeing off at a more optimistic 75 per cent, he was downbeat about the prospects of his injured right wrist standing up to 72 holes' play, especially as he had virtually no practice yesterday. "I'll be apprehensive hitting any shot - I'll certainly be apprehensive hitting it in the rough," Harrington said.

Speaking of '50-50' chances, Heath Slocum is at Birkdale, and discussed the odds of playing as first alternate in a Canadian Press story:

"It was 50-50 to come here and sit," Slocum said Wednesday. "You hate to miss out, especially in a Ryder Cup year. It's an opportunity to earn some points, get another win or help with the FedEx Cup. It's effectively a week off if I'm not in here."

'If it wasn't the Open, I'd have pulled out'

Doesn't this quote remind you of a certain someone at last year's US Open? 

Well this time around, Padraig Harrington is dealing with the sore wrist.  Harrington injured it Saturday when he was hitting a club against an impact bag at his home in Dublin.  Mike Aitken of The Scotsman writes:

Had this not been the most significant tournament of the year for the major winner, he also conceded he would not be risking his fitness. "If it wasn't the Open, I would have pulled out," he reflected. "I would have gone for treatment and decided I wouldn't risk it. Because it's the Open, I'll make the effort."

Harrington only played nine holes in his practice round, and was advised by a doctor on site to stop playing...

He was told not to attempt any more shots but re-joined his playing companions to stroll the back nine and assess the test. Harrington intends to play at least the inward half of the links today and is hopeful of completing all 18 holes. The golfer, who is taking anti-inflammatory tablets, likened the injury to a sprain.

Love, Harrington return to PGA Tour this week

Two of the most recognizable faces in golf are returning to the PGA Tour this week at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.  Davis Love III, a two-time winner at Pebble Beach, had surgery last fall to repair torn tendons in his left ankle.  Love will be making his first apperance since the Deutsche Bank Championship last September, where he missed the cut. "I'm eager to get back into competition and get this year started," said Love.  Padraig Harrington will also be making his first appearance on the PGA Tour this week.  The reigning British Open champ hasn't played competitively on tour since the Tour Championship in September, but did play in Tiger Woods' Target World Challenge in December.  Harrington contracted shingles last week, but said he is feeling healthy again.