In terms of success, Padraig Harrington is the best ever golfer from the Republic of Ireland, with three major championships to his name.
Born in Dublin in August 1971, Harrington was the youngest of six brothers, and took up the game from a young age. He was a late starter in the professional game, only turning pro in his mid-20s, but he has gone on to win several times on both the European Tour and the PGA Tour throughout his illustrious career.
His best spell came in 2007 and 2008, as he claimed seven victories, including three major championship titles. He was the winner at the Open Championship in both years, along with a victory at the PGA Championship in 2008, as he became the most decorated Irish golfer in the history of the sport. He has also added three senior majors to his trophy cabinet, with a pair of wins at the US Senior Open being followed by victory at the ISPS Handa Senior Open Championship in 2025. Those are part of his 11 wins to date on the PGA Tour Champions.
In total, Harrington has won 42 times as a professional, including those major victories. 15 of those wins came on the DP World Tour, including the Volvo Masters Andalucia in 2001 – the season-ending Tour Championship event. Harrington also has six PGA Tour wins, including a pair of wins at the Honda Classic coming ten years apart.
On the international stage, Harrington won the World Cup of Golf for Ireland alongside Paul McGinley in 1997. He also played for Team Europe in the Ryder Cup on six occasions, helping the team to victory in four of those events. Harrington was the captain for the European side at Whistling Straits in the 2021 edition of the biennial competition.
Padraig Harrington | Player Profile
Personal Information
Name: Padraig Harrington
Born: August 31, 1971
Nationality: Ireland
Residence: Dublin, Ireland
Career
Turned Pro: 1995
Professional Wins: 42
Highest World Ranking: 3 – July 20, 2008
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Best Results In Majors
Best Finishes:
– Masters Tournament – T5 (2002, 2008)
– PGA Championship – WON (2008)
– US Open – T4 (2012)
– Open Championship – WON (2007, 2008)
Professional Wins – 42
1996 (1) – Peugeot Spanish Open
1997 (1) – World Cup of Golf
1998 (1) – Smurfit Irish PGA Championship
2000 (2) – Brazil Sao Paulo 500 Years Open, BBVA Open Turespana Masters Comunidad de Madrid
2001 (1) – Volvo Masters Andalucia
2002 (3) – Dunhill Links Championship, BMW Asian Open, Target World Challenge
2003 (2) – Deutsche Bank – SAP Open TPC of Europe, Omega Hong Kong Open
2004 (2) – Irish PGA Championship, Linde German Masters
2005 (4) – Honda Classic, Barclays Classic, JP McManus Pro-Am, Irish PGA Championship
2006 (2) – Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Dunlop Phoenix Tournament
2007 (4) – Irish Open, Irish PGA Championship, Open Championship, Hassan II Golf Trophy
2008 (3) – Ladbrokes.com Irish PGA Championship, Open Championship, PGA Championship
2009 (1) – Ladbrokes.com Irish PGA Championship
2010 (1) – Iskandar Johor Open
2012 (1) – PGA Grand Slam of Golf
2014 (1) – Bank BRI Indonesia Open
2015 (1) – Honda Classic
2016 (1) – Portugal Masters
PGA Tour Champions & European Legends Tour Victories
2022 (4) – US Senior Open, Dick’s Sporting Goods Open, Ascension Charity Classic, Charles Schwab Cup Championship
2023 (2) – Dick’s Sporting Goods Open, TimberTech Championship
2024 (3) – Hoag Classic Newport Beach, Dick’s Open, Simmons Bank Championship
2025 (2) – US Senior Open, ISPS Handa Senior Open Championship
Achievements and Awards
European Tour Order of Merit Winner – 2006
European Tour Golfer of the Year – 2007, 2008
European Tour Players’ Player of the Year – 2008
PGA Tour Player of the Year – 2008
PGA Player of the Year – 2008
PGA Tour Champions Rookie of the Year – 2022
World Golf Hall of Fame – 2024
Padraig Harrington | What’s In His Bag?
The Irishman has a mixed selection of clubs in his bag, with Titleist, TaylorMade and long-time partners Wilson Staff all featuring.
You can check out our in-depth piece on which clubs Harrington plays with here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Padraig Harrington
When and where was Padraig Harrington born?
Padraig Harrington was born in the Irish capital city of Dublin in August 1971. He began playing the game from a young age, as the youngest of six brothers in the family.
When did Padraig Harrington turn professional?
Padraig Harrington turned professional in 1995, having played as a +2 handicap for his last couple of years as an amateur. He shortly found success on the European Tour, claiming his first victory just a year later.
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Who is Padraig Harrington married to?
Harrington is married to Caroline, with the pair having been married since 1997. They have two children, Patrick and Ciaran. Incredibly, Harrington’s caddie – Ronan Flood – became their brother-in-law, after marrying Caroline’s sister.
How many major titles has Padraig Harrington won?
As of October 2024, the Irishman is a three-time major champion. He won the Open Championship in 2007 and 2008, along with lifting the Wanamaker Trophy in 2008 as well.
Harrington is also a senior major champion, with his first senior victory coming at the US Senior Open in 2022. He won the same event for a second time three years later, before also claiming the ISPS Handa Senior Open Championship in 2025 as well.
Did You Know?
European Major History
Thanks to his victories at the Open Championship and the PGA Championship in 2008, Harrington became the first European golfer to ever win back-to-back major titles.
Player of the Year, Everywhere…
Harrington’s 2008 season was an incredible one, thanks to his two major titles. Thanks to his performances he was named Player of the Year on both the European Tour and the PGA Tour, along with also winning the PGA Player of the Year and the Players’ Player of the Year on the European Tour as well.
Hall of Fame Member
Harrington was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2024, becoming just the third Irishman to achieve the feat – following Joe Carr and Christy O’Connor Sr.
Other Padraig Harrington Articles
Exclusive with Padraig Harrington: Steely Keegan Bradley is a ‘very strong’ Ryder Cup captain pick
Copy football! Padraig Harrington’s message to the PGA Tour and LIV Golf
Bizarre toilet issue causes double-bogey for Padraig Harrington at Senior PGA Championship
What do you make of Padraig Harrington’s career? Should the Irishman have won more major titles? Let us know your thoughts with a post on X, formerly Twitter!
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