Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Tuesday, July 22, 2008

We Say: Kirk Bey, Tribune sportswriter, on British Open winner Padraig Harrington

Being Tiger Woods, the greatest golfer in the world, certainly has its perks. The number of words of adulation, and probably a folk song or two, written after he won the U.S. Open last month on one good leg likely would fill a bookshelf at the local library.

But if you’re Padraig Harrington, who won his second straight British Open on Sunday, any words of praise outside his native Ireland probably begin and end with ‘good job.’ That’s too bad. He shot 32 on the back nine and passed Greg Norman. Even more impressive, he played four solid rounds with an injured wrist. The injury was severe enough that he wasn’t sure he’d even be able to compete.

Woods’ performance at the U.S. Open was incredible. But give Harrington credit for also doing something special.

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