Wilson Staff Advisory Member Padraig Harrington Becomes 2008 PGA Champion, Scores Back-to-Back Major Wins
Victory marks 61st major championship title won with Wilson irons
CHICAGO, August 11, 2008 - Wilson Staff Advisory Member Padraig Harrington overcame Sergio Garcia and a grueling 36-hole Sunday to capture The 90th PGA Championship title at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township, Michigan. This is the 61st major tournament title won with Wilson Staff irons, and marks Harrington's second major in a row and third out of the last six. He is only the 4th player in history to win the Open Championship and PGA Championship in the same year.
Wilson Staff equipment dominated Harrington's bag en route to his victory: Dd6+ driver, FYbrid 5-wood, Wilson Staff 3 Hybrid (19 degree), Ci7 series 4-iron, Pi series 5-iron through pitching wedge, and prototype Tw9 wedges (54 and 60 degrees).
Harrington had an impressive final two days, shooting a 66 in the rain delayed third round followed by another 66 to secure the win. Harrington shot a 32 on the back nine, just as he did at Royal Birkdale last month, and he came up with clutch shot-making throughout the final round. He chipped to 3-feet for birdie on the 12th, hit a 5-iron to 12-feet for birdie on the 13th, rolled in a 12-foot par on the 16th to catch Sergio Garcia and Ben Curtis, took the lead by hitting it to 8-feet for birdie on the par-3 17th, then closed out the Spaniard with an 18-foot par for a two-shot victory. With the win, Harrington becomes the first European player to win the PGA Championship since the tournament began using stroke play in 1958.
Harrington is number three in the official World Golf Rankings and he is Europe's number one player. Harrington will also be a contender to win Player of the Year honors, which will be determined later this year. He is just the fourth player ever to win the Open Championship and the PGA Championship in the same year. "We continue to be energized by Padraig's performance and are thrilled to play a role in his historic achievement," said Tim Clarke, General Manager, Wilson Golf. "Padraig's drive and determination is an inspiration to our entire organization, and is a testament to his competitive nature.
We’ll be seeing a lot more of Padraig in the championship circle." In accepting the Wannamaker Trophy, Harrington alluded to the close competition that marked the last three holes in particular. "I think I was just willing to risk it all at that stage," he said. "You've got to get focused in that situation and the adrenaline and pressure help with that. You just take it on and give it a go."
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