Before the Open started at Royal Birkdale I wrote off his chances of retaining his title on the basis that he was complaining of neck and wrist injuries in the run up.

In the event, the genial Irishman shrugged off the bad weather, his various ailments and a quality field to romp to a four-stroke success in Southport.

Impressive stuff, especially when you consider that the last European to successfully defend the title was James Braid way back in 1906.

However, last month's triumph on the west coast obviously gave the lanky lad a taste for the spotlight and majors, not to mention a huge shot of confidence, because Harrington has been making history again.

On Sunday, he produced a stunning final nine holes at Oakland Hills Country Club to land the USPGA Championship – becoming the first European to win that trophy in 78 years in the process.

He also did something that European greats like Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros never managed and became the first man from this continent to win back-to-back majors.

Before anyone leaps for the email or record books, yes I know that Ballesteros did win consecutive majors that he entered – the Open in 1979 and Masters in 1980 – but he didn't compete in the USPGA in between.

Harrington is in the form of his life and at this rate he could probably retain the Ryder Cup single handed when Europe and America lock horns again at the Valhalla course in Louisville next month!

But seriously, it's a fantastic achievement and there will definitely be more celebrations in the Harrington household on August 31st when the Dublin-born ace celebrates his 37th birthday.

It's all a far cry from 2006 when he bogeyed the final three holes to let the US Open title slip from his grasp.

But rather than let it blight his career Harrington saw it as a positive and came from six shots back to beat Sergio Garcia to the Open crown at Carnoustie in 2007, though it took a play-off to settle matters.

Garcia was one of the men on the receiving end at Oakland Hills, losing out over the final couple of holes to his old adversary who showed rock steady nerves and an immaculate putting stroke throughout the tense closing stages.

The talented Spaniard must feel that he is destined never to win a major but if he can harness the experience and use it in his favour next year there is every chance he can join Harrington as a winner on the really big stage.

Garcia has been an integral part of Europe's Ryder Cup success for many years now and has everything to succeed at the very highest level, maybe he just needs that bit of luck that sportsmen and women occasionally refer talk about.

Certainly there was no sign of nerves in his game over the closing holes in Detroit.

He could easily have made birdies at both 15, where his six iron approach shot clattered against the pin, and the par-three 17th where he rifled a five iron to within eight feet after seeing playing partner Harrington's tee shot finish 10 feet away.

Harrington's form, though, was irresistible and after birdies at the 10th, 12th, 13th he claimed another at the 71st hole of the tournament and salvaged a par from a bunker and then the rough on the last to claim the spoils.

However, there is a bit of a theme developing because after two rounds in America the Irishman was complaining of feeling the worse for wear.

He arrived in Detroit feeling drained by his Open experience three weeks earlier and at the halfway stage on Friday night had virtually dismissed his chances of victory, citing mental fatigue after a second-round 74 had left him at five over par for the tournament, six shots back on the leader JB Holmes.

However, two consecutive rounds of 66 followed and Harrington was asked how he would perform if he came into a major championship feeling 100 per cent fit and on top of his game.

"No, no, no, it doesn't work like that," Harrington said with a laugh. "I actually struggle with things that are comfortable. It's something that I work with, with (sports psychologist) Bob Rotella. I'm better off; I definitely have a little bit of, I want to be fighting it.

"And that's why I have done well like this week when I'm not quite on my game. I've won many a tournament where I felt I wasn't swinging as well as I could; and performed poorly sometimes when I felt I was swinging well.

"So I'm a bit, a little bit of a contrast like that. But I'm getting better. As I said at the Open Championship, I did it when I felt good about my game, and that was important to me."

So that's the key for Ryder Cup captain Faldo then – make sure Padraig's feeling under the weather. And if he is come Valhalla on September 19th, the Americans won't know what's hit them!