Background

Padraig Harrington was born in Ballyroan, Dublin, Ireland, the youngest of five sons of Patrick and Breda Harrington.

His father, “Paddy” (1933–2005), a Garda, played Gaelic football for Cork in the 1950s and was also a keen boxer and hurler. He played to a five handicap in golf.

Ballyroan Parish, located in Rathfarnham on Dublin’s southside, is also the birthplace of two other touring professional golfers — Paul McGinley and Peter Lawrie.

Harrington and McGinley attended Coláiste Éanna at the same time, though not in the same year, giving it the unique distinction of producing two Ryder Cup golfers.

After leaving school, Padraig combined amateur golf with studying accountancy.

Amateur Career

Padraig played in his first amateur tournament in 1987, the Connacht Boys Championship, where he reached the final but was beaten on the 22nd hole after losing his golf ball.

He also finished third in the Irish Boys Close Championship at The Grange Golf Club, a performance that earned him a place on the Irish Boys team for the Home Internationals at Kilmarnock Barassie Golf Club in Scotland.

In the summer of 1988, he finished runner-up in the Irish Boys Championship at Birr Golf Club and won the Leinster Boys Championship at Royal Tara Golf Club with a score of 4 under par (284).

The Home Internationals were played in August at Formby Golf Club, where he won three of his four matches.

Padraig has always been extremely proud to represent Ireland. In total, he teed it up 114 times for his country across all levels, achieving a strike rate of 72% overall and an impressive 92% in singles matches.

Early Development & Character

Padraig moved into youth level competition in 1989, finishing third in both the Irish Youths and Connacht Championships.

He also finished second in the Leinster Youths Championship at Greystones Golf Club with a score of five under par.

He won both his singles matches in the Boys Home Internationals and represented Great Britain & Ireland in their victory over Europe at Nairn Golf Club.

At the European Boys Team Championships in Sweden, he won five out of six matches.

When he played, he always returned a scorecard, no matter the result. His father instilled in him a strong work ethic — the belief that improvement comes only through time and effort.

As Paddy Harrington once said, “Nothing seemed to faze him. The more knocks he got, the more determined he was to bounce back.”

Harrington himself has always identified determination as his defining characteristic.

Professional Career

European Tour

Following a successful amateur career, including winning the Walker Cup with Great Britain & Ireland in 1995, Harrington turned professional later that year and joined the European Tour in 1996.

His first win came quickly at the 1996 Peugeot Spanish Open. However, the following years were notable for a series of near misses, including multiple runner-up finishes.

In 1999, he achieved one of his ambitions by representing Europe in the Ryder Cup. His qualification was secured through remarkable consistency, finishing second in each of the final qualifying events.

A standout moment came with his singles victory over Mark O’Meara — one of the most courageous performances of that Ryder Cup.

He went on to enjoy consistent success, recording at least one European Tour win each year from 2000 to 2004.

Harrington finished in the top ten of the Order of Merit seven times, including second place in 2001 and 2002, and third place in 2003 and 2004, before winning the Order of Merit in 2006.

In 2007, he was named European Tour Golfer of the Year.

International Success & Recognition

Harrington’s 2006 Order of Merit victory came after a dramatic season finale, where he edged ahead on the final hole of the final event.

He also began competing regularly in the United States, winning the Target World Challenge in 2002 and achieving strong finishes in major events.

He spent over 200 weeks inside the top ten of the Official World Golf Rankings, reaching a career-high of third in the world.

PGA Tour & Major Wins

Harrington joined the PGA Tour in 2005 and quickly made an impact, winning the Honda Classic in a playoff.

He followed this with victory at the Barclays Classic, sealing the win with a remarkable 65-foot eagle putt on the final hole.

Major Championships

The Open Championship – 2007 (Carnoustie)
Harrington defeated Sergio Garcia in a four-hole playoff to become the first Irishman in 60 years to win The Open, and the first from the Republic of Ireland.

The Open Championship – 2008 (Royal Birkdale)
Despite a wrist injury just days before the event, he successfully defended his title with a brilliant final round performance.

PGA Championship – 2008
Just three weeks later, Harrington claimed his third major, becoming the first European to win the PGA Championship in 78 years.

He became one of the few players in modern golf to win multiple majors in a single year, placing him among the game’s greats.

Career Highlights

Harrington has:

• Won 3 Major Championships

• Spent over 200 weeks in the world’s top 10

• Reached World No. 3

• Represented Europe in multiple Ryder Cups

• Played 114 times for Ireland

At Stackstown

Padraig Harrington’s connection to Stackstown runs deep, with members recalling his dedication and commitment from a young age.

Stories from the club speak of his attention to detail, his work ethic, and his determination, qualities that would later define his career at the highest level.