Harrington proves nice guys don't always finish last

Padraig Harrington has proved that nice guys - and a European nice guy at that - need not always finish last after winning the title of Champion Golfer of the Year at Carnoustie on Sunday.

Irishman Harrington provided the perfect comeback to Faldo's outburst that European players were too chummy to win a major.

Faldo, who won six major's himself, chose the week of the Open to tear into Europe's current crop of players, saying that they did not possess the mean streak required to win and there was too much 'chumminess' on the European tour.

"I don't believe a player can't win a Major just because he's a nice guy. Of course, you've got to have a competitive instinct to win, but I'm sure many nice guys have won Majors", Harrington said as he hit back prior to The Open, and it was ironic that it was Harrington picking up the claret jug on Sunday evening.

European golf was spoilt for choice as Harrington battled it out with Spain's Sergio Garcia in a dramatic four-hole play-off, and Harrington couldn't hold back his nice side after defeating Garcia.

"I wanted to win that play-off so badly, but I genuinely felt sorry for Sergio when I won it", he said.

But even the coldest of hearts would have felt for Garcia as he hit his second shot into a steep greenside bunker on the 18th during regulation play. Needing only a par to win he shot a bogey-5 and, having led the tournament since day one, was forced into the play-off with Harrington.