Harri's game praised
By Jamie Hunt Last updated: 31st July 2007
A happy Harrington enjoys his Open triumph
GOLF NIGHT
Every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night on Sky Sports.
The long wait for a European major champion is over and Golf Night found out this week that Padraig Harrington was a very popular winner of the Open Championship.
In the week after Harrington's triumph at Carnoustie, the Golf Night team went out and about to to ask his European Tour friends and rivals what they made of the Irishman's triumph.
All were unified in their glowing praise of the Irishman and share sympathy for runner-up Sergio Garcia and feel that off the back of Harrington's success, there is more joy to come for Europeans in the majors.
Here is what Paul McGinley, Retief Goosen, Henrik Stenson, Nick Dougherty and Niclas Fasth told Sky Sports
Paul McGinley
"It was great for Padraig, obviously, great for Ireland and great for Europe, in that order probably. I obviously feel sorry for Sergio, as a European and what he has done for European golf. He had the pressure all week, he led the tournament from the very first day.
"But Padraig is my buddy, as everyone knows, and I am very happy for him.
"He is not hard to figure out, he is as you see him. What you see on the golf course, that's him off the golf course too. A very steady guy, a good family guy and a popular guy with everyone.
"Michael Campbell won, as Padraig said in one of his interviews, so of course Padraig can inspire us. We have dominated the Ryder Cup over the last number of years so there is no reason why the European players shouldn't be winning the majors.
Henrik Stenson
"I am delighted on his behalf. I still haven't seen him so, if you are looking, congratulations, well done. Of course I can understand how tough it must have been for Sergio.
"He is a great competitor and he never gives up. That is why he won the Open because if had given up even a little bit, he wouldn't have won the Open.
"That is why he made that up-and-down to make double on the last to make the play-off. He always keeps on going and if there is a chance to take it, he will do so."
Retief Goosen
"It is great for him to pull it off. He has been a strong contender for a while now in the majors, and Sergio.
"You wanted Sergio to win, you wanted Padraig to win. It was sad that the two of them were in the play-off but at the end of the day somebody had to win and Padraig made a great up-and-down at the 72nd hole to get in the play-off."
Nick Dougherty
"It was nice seeing both those guys coming down the stretch. Obviously it has ended the drought that everyone has been talking about with European players. I am very pleased for him.
"You have got to have a huge amount of admiration for someone who works as hard as he does on his golf game. He has dedicated his life to it. He has done so much work with Bob Torrance over the years and has progressed so well and he is the right guy to win."
Niclas Fasth
"We all know, certainly I know, that if we have a good tournament which happens to be a major, you might just pull it off.
"That feeling has to be there or you will never win it. But if one of your colleagues wins it helps open the doors for us."
Comments
Brian Forde says...
as many have probably said, the hardest thing was to see it come down to the two players who ended up battling it out. either way you knew that there had to be heartache for one of the guys, both of whom i admire very much as both golfers and people. i wish congradulations and further success to padraig and to sergio i can only say that your day will deservedly come soon, so keep your chin up and yet your head down. its just great for european golfers especially after mr faldos' comments.
Posted 01:42 10th August 2007
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