Harrington receives PGA Recognition Award

Padraig Harrington is the 2014 recipient of the PGA Recognition Award for his outstanding contribution to golf. The three time major winner from Dublin, who scored his most recent victory in the Indonesian Open, collected the accolade at the PGA’s annual fundraiser at the Grosvenor House Hotel.

Harrington has scaled the heights of world golf with back-to-back Open Championship victories at Carnoustie in 2007 and Royal Birkdale a year later. He also held off the challenge of Sergio Garcia to land the USPGA Championship at Oakland Hills in 2008 to become the first European to win back-to-back major championships.

It was deserved reward for his efforts on the practice ground where he would famously spend days on end with coach Bob Torrance fashioning a swing to accompany his deadly accurate short game. The three-time Walker Cup player turned professional in 1995 and has recorded 14 European Tour victories plus several more worldwide.

He has enjoyed huge success in the Ryder Cup, making six appearances, helping Europe to four wins, the last in 2010. Harrington was also a vice captain to fellow Irishman Paul McGinley at Gleneagles and is widely touted as a future captain.

Commenting on the award, Harrington said: “The PGA does outstanding work on behalf of its members and fulfils an important role in growing and promoting the game of golf for the benefit of all. It’s a real honour to receive the PGA Recognition Award from such a respected organisation and I am delighted that my career achievements have been recognised with this special distinction.

The PGA lunch is an important fundraiser for the PGA’s Benevolent Fund which helps members who have fallen on difficult and hard times.

Pictured: Padraig Harrington receiving the PGA Recognition Award from PGA captain Neil Selwyn-Smith

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A graduate of Cardiff University’s highly respected post-graduate magazine journalism course, Andy has successfully edited four different publications across the B2B, trade and consumer sectors. He is skilled at all aspects of the magazine process in addition to editing websites and managing social media channels.