By IANS
Carnoustie (Scotland) : New British Open champion Padraig Harrington is backing himself to win more Majors after bringing Europe's long wait to an end here Sunday.
The Irishman's win was the Old Continent's first major success since Paul Lawrie won at the same venue in 1999 and he is hoping it can open the floodgates – for himself and fellow Europeans.
Europe had gone eight years and 31 Majors without a winner.
Harrington told a press conference Monday: "I definitely think we have banished the hang-up for the moment. We might get a year before it's mentioned again!
"European players know how my game is in relation to theirs and the fact that I have done it will make a lot of them believe they can do it. I don't think I'm an intimidating force.
"European golf is very strong. This may be the start and if it is I will be telling people I started it."
Spaniard Sergio Garcia would be top of many people's list to claim the next Major for Europe and Harrington had some kind words for the man he beat in a four-hole play-off to win the claret jug.
"He is probably the best ball striker in the game and he is still young. I really felt for him. I know he is under incredible pressure to win a Major and he will. It will happen.
"The more he believes that the quicker it will happen, but the longer it takes the harder it gets. He could have left the field behind here."
As for his own future and the added responsibilities of being the British Open champion, the Dubliner added: "I'm in a good mood and I will be for the next week, the next year, the next 10 years.
"There are a lot of complications, but I'm not going to worry about them for a couple of days. At the end of the week I'll start working on what I am going to do.
"But I want to do the British Open championship justice. Like being European number one I want to feel I carry the flag well. It carries responsibilities."