Open champion Padraig Harrington became a father for the second time on Saturday.

But that still won't stop him becoming Father Christmas when he cashes in with Tiger Woods in the megabucks Target World Challenge next month.

Baby Ciaran was born at lunchtime on Saturday with Harrington informing the world that the boy weighs 8 lbs and 15 onces.

Harrington added: "Both mother and son are doing great."

And that's good news for organisers of the $5.75 (euro 3.8) Target World Challenge at Thousand Oaks in Los Angeles from December 13-16.

Harrington has already pulled out of this week's Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City.

But he will now tee it up in the 16-man LA event alongside the likes of Woods, Jim Furyk, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Vijay Singh.

First prize is $1.35 million – more than any major and second only to THE PLAYERS Championship on this year’s PGA TOUR – and no golfer leaves with less than $170,000.