FACTBOX-Golf-British Open champion Padraig Harrington

July 20 (Reuters) - Factbox on Ireland's Padraig Harrington, who won the 2008 British Open at Royal Birkdale, England on Sunday:

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* Born Aug 31, 1971 in Dublin.

* Turned professional in 1995, winning his first tournament, the Spanish Open in 1996, before teaming up with Paul McGinley at Kiawah Island a year later to win Ireland's first World Cup for 39 years.

* Made his Ryder Cup debut in 1999 and was a vital member of the victorious European Teams in 2002, 2004 and 2006.

* Renowned as a consistent runner-up - he has finished second on 30 occasions - Harrington became the first Irishman to win a U.S. PGA Tour event at the 2005 Honda Classic, taking a second success at the Barclays Classic in the same year.

* Having twice finished second (2001, 2002) and third (2003, 2004) in the European Order of Merit, topped the year-end rankings for first time in 2006.

* Ended a 25-year wait for a home winner of the Irish Open when he won the 2007 title at Adare, the 11th European title of his career, to emulate the feat of John O'Leary in 1982.

* Broke a more pressing wait, the eight years since Europe's last major champion, when he defeated Spain's Sergio Garcia in a playoff to win his first major title at the 2007 British Open at Carnoustie, Scotland.

* Retained the British Open in 2008 with a four-shot victory despite an injury to his right wrist which threatened his participation in the event.

(Editing by Tom Pilcher)