In the past 60 years, only four golfers have accomplished the rare feat of back-to-back victories at the Open Championship: Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Tiger Woods and Pádraig Harrington.
Three of those players were quick to make their mark on the big stage. Trevino won on his fourth major outing – at the 1968 U.S. Open – before claiming the Claret Jug for the first time at just the third attempt; Watson was victorious on his debut Open in 1975; and Woods marked his maiden major as a professional with a sensational runaway victory in the 1997 Masters.
For Harrington, however, twin triumphs at Carnoustie in 2007 and Royal Birkdale in 2008 represented rewards for a patient and prolonged pursuit of glory.
The Irishman was 35 years old and into his 12th season as a professional when he first tasted major success. Other players may have been frustrated by such a wait, but Harrington found that his experiences as a youngster ensured he was more than comfortable with taking gradual steps to the top of the game.
“I meet kids now who are off scratch at 12 or whatever. It was different for me,” Harrington said. “I never had a lesson until I was 15 years of age, and I was playing for Ireland. I got picked, you got into a coaching system, that’s the first time I ever had a formal lesson in my life.”
Although Harrington was nowhere near a scratch handicap in his early teenage years, his competitive spirit and desire to improve could not be matched. Over time, he steadily moved closer to the level required of a professional golfer.
“When I was 13 years of age, I was a 32 handicap. When I was 14 years of age, I was a 14 handicap. When I was 15 years of age, I was a 9 handicap. When I was 16 years of age, I was a 5 handicap and when I was 17 years of age, I was a 1 handicap,” Harrington said.
Almost two decades later, having remained committed to continued improvement, he had won the Open twice as well as the 2008 PGA Championship.
“If competitive golf was played on a driving range, I would not be a three-time major winner. But when you get out there and you put me under pressure, I’m prepared to put my neck on the line. That’s the biggest thing,” he said.
“I never was the guy that you’d look out and say, ‘Wow, he’s destined to be the greatest player of all-time in golf.’ I’m the guy who had to learn it, had to figure it out, and I’ve enjoyed that I’ve had to learn it.”
To read more about Harrington’s journey to becoming a two-time “champion golfer of the year,” click HERE.
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