Glory name of the game for Padraig

Aug 3 2008 By Euan Mclean

OPEN hero Padraig Harrington is desperate to win more Majors so he can become famous enough to just sign his first name for autograph hunters.

The Irishman is one of the best on tour for stopping for golf fans but demand has never been higher since winning the Claret Jug two years in a row.

That can be time consuming when you have a name as long as Harrington's.

But life could get a lot easier if he can raise his profile to the level of guys like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh who are widely referred to just by their first names.

These players have earned that universal recognition on the strength of winning at least three Major titles - and Harrington has every reason to fancy his chances of joining their elite club during the US PGA at Oakland Hills.

He smiled: "I thought when I won The Open last year, 'Could I get away with maybe signing Paddy?'

"While I used to always sign P Harrington, as Open champion I've done 99.9 per cent using my full name.

"I don't think my second Open will get me down to the one name yet. I'll have to win a few more.

"Obviously a Major victory puts you in a special club. Winning two puts you in a new group altogether.

"Over the next week I will begin to reflect on things like that.

"I set my schedule out to peak this year at the four Majors and make the Ryder Cup. I got vaguely in contention at the Masters, at the US Open it didn't happen and at The Open it did.

"If I can get a 50 per cent hit rate I'll be in contention for two Majors a year.

"I didn't realise I'd get another title so quickly although was confident it would happen again. I've matured as a player, I trustmy game more and have extra confidence in my swing."