Leona Maguire insists Pádraig Harrington isn’t finished winning on either the Champions Tour or the main tour yet after he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame on Monday night.
Harrington, now 52, has won three major championships, fifteen European Tour titles and six PGA Tour wins. His crowning glories are winning back to back Open Championships in 2007 and 2008 before winning the PGA Championship a few weeks later.
The Dubliner lit the touch paper for a glittering period in Irish men’s professional golf with Graeme McDowell (2010 US Open), Rory McIlroy (2011-2014) and Darren Clarke (2011 Open) going on to win majors and Maguire believes Harrington has reached the pinnacle of golf.
“It’s incredible. It’s fantastic to see him honored in that way. That’s really the pinnacle of golf, to get inducted into the Hall of Fame. He’s meant so much to I think everybody in Ireland. He’s one of our greatest ever sports people and greatest ever golfer arguably.”
Maguire grew up watching Harrington and as she entered the professional ranks on the LPGA Tour she has often sought the advice of her compatriot.
“I grew up watching him win his majors and he was a huge inspiration to me. I know some of the other guys. It was nice to see Shane sort of there supporting him on Monday night. Looked like they had a great time.
“Very fortunate to have got to know him in recent years, and he’s been very gracious with his time and giving back to the game as well. It’s always impressive when someone is a great golfer and winning majors, but when they’re an even better person it makes that bit nicer and that bit more special.”
The Cavan star has been inspired by Harrington’s work ethic and stresses that he is not done yet competing for titles on the main tour.
“And he’s not done yet. There is still plenty of things he wants to accomplish on the Champions Tour and win again on the main TOUR.
“It’s still always impressive to see how hard he works and continuing to try and get better every day.”