Padraig Harrington's memorable year continued on Monday as he won the Golf Writers' Trophy for 2007.
Open champion Harrington wins 2007 Golf Writers' Trophy
Padraig Harrington's memorable year continued on Monday as he won the Golf Writers' Trophy for 2007.
The Dubliner claimed his first major crown as he clinched the Open Championship at Carnoustie in July and was last week named as the European Tour's Golfer of the Year.
He has now added the Golf Writers' accolade to that list, becoming the fourth Irishman to do so.
The 36-year-old joins compatriots Joe Carr who claimed the award 1953, Harry Bradshaw winner in 1958 and Christy O'Connor, the last Irishman to so in 1977.
Harrington polled over 75 percent of votes, emerging a clear victor ahead of Order of Merit winner Justin Rose and Scotland's World Cup-winning pair Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren who came third.
It caps an unforgettable 12 months for the Ryder Cup star who came from six shots back on the Sunday at Carnoustie to pip Sergio Garcia in a tension-filled play-off.
Harrington was predictably delighted at his latest gong, but insisted he remained hungry to build on the achievements of 2007.
"I was thrilled to get the news that I had won the award," he stated. "It means a lot to find myself bracketed alongside such great former winners.
"The hardest part about winning something as big as the Open is probably motivating yourself to move on. The focus now is to move forward and not look back.
"Of course I've started thinking ahead to Royal Birkdale. In so far as it's possible, I'm going to make a point of setting about doing everything in the same way as I did last year, minus my visits to the Barry Burn!
"Technically, I still think that my swing is improving and I'm changing to playing with a fade rather than a draw."
