He’s tamed the Tiger – now Irish golf superstar Padraig Harrington has come face to face with a Cheetah.

The triple Major winner met up with a real live Cheetah in South Africa ahead of this week’s Champions tournament.

Harrington returns to action for the first time in 2012 determined to make a push for Europe’s Ryder Cup team.

-------------------

Read more:

More Irish sports news from IrishCentral

Cardinal Dolan talks modern society and how sex is debased to “animal rutting”

Massive pub crawls set to replace canceled Hoboken St. Patrick’s Day parade - VIDEO

-------------------

But first he took time out to get up close and personal with the animal, venturing to pet the cheetah with the hands that have earned over $60million in prize money.

Watched closely by his handler, the cheetah merely purred and turned to look at Harrington as the Irishman stroked its back according to the Irish Independent.

“I considered it worth the risk,” the Dubliner told the paper.