Harrington a Hilary hit at Sutton

Pádraig Harrington in action at Sutton on Friday. Picture Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.iePádraig Harrington went back to his roots when he made a special appearance in the final Rabobank sponspored Hilary outing of the season at Sutton, won top prize and was made an honorary life member of the society.

To help mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Hilary by Sutton members, the three-time major winner teed it up and shot a two under 68 alongside Irish Amateur Open champion Gavin Moynihan, the Island’s John Grant and Royal Dublin’s Kevin Knightly to win the outing.

Wilson Staff sponsored Harrington then stayed on for the prize-giving, raising laughs when he was awarded a PING club for his 68 and tried to hide the logo from the cameras.

Padraig Harrington receives his prize from Kevin Knightly. Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ieFollowing the prize-giving, he answered questions from the floor in an entertaining Q&A session.

Click here for photos from the outing, and here for images from the prize-giving and presentations.

The Dubliner missed the cut in last week’s Masters but returns to action in a fortnight for the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow and the The Players Championship at Sawgrass.

He will return to Europe for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth before heading back to the US for the countdown to the US Open at Merion from June 13-16.

Team winners John Grant, Pádraig Harrington, Kevin Knightly and Gavin Moynihan at Sutton. Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ie

Harrington birdied the first, 10th, 12th and chipped in for another birdie at the 13th before finishing with five straight pars

But he also had two bogeys following visits to water, at the fourth with his approach while and at the 346-yard 11th, where he went for the green but slightly mishit his drive.

Moynihan went out in one over 36 and bogeyed the par-five 12th before finishing with four threes in hus last six holes - 3-3-3-4-3-4 - with birdies at the 13th and 17th.

Harrington’s tour caddie and brother-in-law Ronan Flood, playing out of Hermitage off a two handicap, had a chance to put one over on his “boss” when he went out in level par and then birdied the 11th. But after a bogey at the 14th he left overall victory slim away with a bogey-par-double bogey finish

Pádraig Harrington gave an entertaining speech during the Hilary Golf Society’s 60th anniversary celebrations at Sutton. Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ieResults

Team: Padraig Harrington, Kevin Knightly (Royal Dublin), Gavin Moynihan (The Island), John Grant (The Island) 58.

Gross: Gavin Moynihan (The Island) 70.

3rd: R Gregan (6) Forrest Little 68

2nd: Niall Worth (1) The Island 68

Winner: Pádraig Harrington 68