The three-time major champion and Ryder Cup legend is among the inductees to the World Golf Hall of Fame
Padraig Harrington has been “humbled” by his induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame – becoming just the third Irishman to join the elite list of legends.
Alongside Harrington in the class of 2024 is 1973 Open champion Tom Weiskopf, Sandra Palmer, Johnny Farrell, Beverly Hanson, and the seven remaining founders of the LPGA.
The 51-year-old has found a new lease of life on the PGA Tour Champions, but his achievements on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour place him as one of Europe’s most successful players of recent years.
“I’m very proud to be included with the players before me,” said Harrington. “This is very exciting, obviously a huge honour. It’s somewhat humbling.
“At this stage of my life, it gives me some validation of what I’ve done in golf. (It) brings back a flood of memories. This is a deep-down satisfaction.
“Seeing your name beside the names that I’ve looked up to as a boy and young golfer, it’s very nice.
“Everybody on the ballot deserves to be there. It’s unfortunate that everyone can’t be in, but it’s great to be included in the Class of 2024.”
Harrington burst onto the scene in 1996 by winning the Spanish Open. He made his debut at the Ryder Cup three years later and went on to represent Europe six times.
He won back-to-back Open Championships in 2007 and 2008 and also bagged the PGA Championship during what was a rampant period for the Dubliner.
Harrington captained Europe at the 2021 Ryder Cup, but his blue and white side fell victim to an unstoppable American team that won by a record margin at Whistling Straits.
Nonetheless, the six-time PGA Tour winner will join Joe Carr and Christy O’Connor Snr as players from his home country to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
He will be officially inducted at next year’s US Open at Pinehurst in North Carolina, corresponding with the Hall of Fame Museum opening on the USGA’s Golf House campus.
A total of 18 finalists were shortlisted for consideration to join Harrington, but among those not chosen were former US Open champion Jim Furyk and legendary coach Butch Harmon.
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