Harrington is European PGA top player

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LONDON, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- British Open champion Padraig Harrington was voted the 2007 European Tour Golfer of the Year, the tour announced Tuesday.

The vote of professional golfers gave the honor to Harrington over U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera and European Tour Order of Merit winner Justin Rose.

Harrington, 36, won British Open despite hitting into the water twice on the 18th hole of regulation. He beat Sergio Garcia in the subsequent four-hole playoff.

Harrington, from Dublin, Ireland, also won the Irish Open in a playoff.

"In my eyes The Irish Open is the fifth major," said Harrington. "It's my national event and when I get there it's incredibly hyped up and there's loads of expectation and pressure. So it mimics a major for me."

He won the Order of Merit title in 2006 was finished third on those standings in 2007 with winnings of about $3.6 million.