It had been seven years coming -- but Padraig Harrington could celebrate lifting a trophy again when he won the US PGA Tour event at Palm Beach Gardens in March.
Back in the old routine —
It had been seven years coming -- but Padraig Harrington could celebrate lifting a trophy again when he won the US PGA Tour event at Palm Beach Gardens in March.
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Harrington, 43, triumphed in Florida after a playoff with American Daniel Berger following a cliffhanger of a final round.
Hat's the way to do it —
Harrington, 43, triumphed in Florida after a playoff with American Daniel Berger following a cliffhanger of a final round.
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The Irishman arrested a slump that had seen him struggling for any sort of form as he dropped down the rankings, arriving in Florida as the world's 297th-rated golfer.
Driving forward —
The Irishman arrested a slump that had seen him struggling for any sort of form as he dropped down the rankings, arriving in Florida as the world's 297th-rated golfer.
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Harrington's last win on either the PGA Tour or European Tour had arrived at the 2008 US PGA Championship, played at Oakland Hills Country Club in Michigan.
Last time around —
Harrington's last win on either the PGA Tour or European Tour had arrived at the 2008 US PGA Championship, played at Oakland Hills Country Club in Michigan.
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Earlier that year, he lifted the Claret Jug after winning the 137th British Open at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.
Open sesame —
Earlier that year, he lifted the Claret Jug after winning the 137th British Open at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.
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But Harrington's subsequent slump in form brought a series of setbacks, including a failure to qualify for the 2014 U.S. Open.
Slippery slope —
But Harrington's subsequent slump in form brought a series of setbacks, including a failure to qualify for the 2014 U.S. Open.
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That failure meant he <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2014%2F05%2F27%2Fsport%2Fgolf%2Fpadraig-harrington-us-open-qualifying%2F">missed his first U.S. Open in 15 years</a>, but his form began to turn around as the year went on.
Keeping the faith —
That failure meant he missed his first U.S. Open in 15 years, but his form began to turn around as the year went on.
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Harrington, seen in action during the 2004 Abu Dhabi World Sand Golf Championships at the Al Ghazal Golf Club, said he believed his problems stemmed from frustration at failing to reach the standards he had hit in the past.
Sands of time —
Harrington, seen in action during the 2004 Abu Dhabi World Sand Golf Championships at the Al Ghazal Golf Club, said he believed his problems stemmed from frustration at failing to reach the standards he had hit in the past.
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Following a glittering amateur career, which included winning the Walker Cup at Royal Porthcawl in 1995 -- he is pictured in reflective mood at that tournament -- Harrington turned professional in September 1995.
Back at the beginning —
Following a glittering amateur career, which included winning the Walker Cup at Royal Porthcawl in 1995 -- he is pictured in reflective mood at that tournament -- Harrington turned professional in September 1995.
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