PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON has provided Irish sports supporters with some memorable moments in recent years but it would be hard to surpass the thrilling nature of his USPGA Championship win in Detroit late on Sunday night.
Coming just three weeks after he retained his British Open title at Birkdale, Harrington's display on the last nine holes at Oakland Hills was both masterly and compelling.
The head-to-head battle between the Dubliner and Spaniard Sergio Garcia was pure sporting theatre, dispelling the notion that golf is a game that rarely throws up the nail-biting finishes commonly associated with other high-profile sports.
The Ryder Cup teammates went into the final round with memories still fresh of their 2007 British Open exploits at Carnoustie in Scotland. On that occasion, Harrington almost threw away his chance of a first major victory with a disaster on his 72nd hole. But the Dubliner recovered and went on to beat Garcia in a play-off.
The win gave Harrington a huge fillip, propelled him up the world rankings and killed off the notion that he was a player who would be remembered more for second place finishes than victories. But it also imposed its own pressures, eventually forcing him to acknowledge that he would have to get back to his normal regime of constant practice and tournament play if he wanted to contend for golf's top prizes again.
That resolve, coupled with brilliant shot-making and an unshakeable self-belief, yielded another British Open last month when he delivered one of the greatest displays of controlled play on the final afternoon to capture the coveted claret jug. However, even the player himself must have travelled to the USPGA Championship with serious doubts as to whether he could bring the same intensity and skill he showed on the Lancashire links to the narrow fairways and punishing rough of the famous US course.
Those doubts were dispelled in some style on Sunday night when Harrington moved into contention again for one of golf's four majors. Outside of Tiger Woods, the 36-year-old has established himself as the sport's most ferocious competitor and it was hardly a surprise that his nearest rivals fell away one by one. Harrington is now one of the greatest players in the history of golf. He combines this status with a modesty and charm that makes him a sporting ambassador of whom the whole country can be immensely proud.