August 11, 2008

PADRAIG Harrington won his second Major title in three weeks and in the process broke Sergio Garcia's heart at the US PGA Championship.

Harrington putted brilliantly down the stretch, making lengthy putts at the final three holes to beat Spaniard Garcia and American Ben Curtis by two strokes in difficult conditions at Oakland Hills.

Irishman Harrington ended a 78-year-old European drought at the PGA, the first winner from the other side of the Atlantic since Tommy Armour, the Silver Scot, won the 1930 championship.

Harrington last month was simply brilliant over the final nine holes as he passed Greg Norman in the closing holes at the British Open, and this time he stuck a dagger into Garcia's heart.

One stroke ahead after a three-metre birdie at the 17th hole, Harrington hit a poor drive at the par-four 18th, laid up into the rough, and then fashioned a nine-iron to five metres, before sinking the putt to clinch victory.

"I was willing them into the hole," said Harrington, who carded 66 to finish at three-under-par 277.

Garcia (68), who subsequently missed a meaningless par putt, tied for second with Curtis (71) on one-under.

Garcia tried to be positive despite his bitter disappointment after losing to the same man who edged him in a play-off at last year's British Open.

"I gave it my all. Unfortunately, sometimes things don't want to go the right way," he said.

Aaron Baddeley (73) was the highest-placed Australian, nine strokes behind in a tie for 13th, one shot ahead of Stuart Appleby (72).

Harrington began the final round tied with Garcia, three strokes behind then leader Curtis.

But Garcia made the hottest start, a 1.5-metre birdie at the par-four first followed by a magnificent eagle at the par-five second.

Garcia held a two-shot lead over Curtis at the turn, with Harrington three behind, but the Irishman erased the deficit with three birdies in the next four holes.

A bogey at the 14th halted Harrington's momentum, before Garcia received a bad break at the 15th when his approach shot clattered against the pin, without dropping, and he could not convert the three-metre birdie putt.

The par-four 16th was the scene of high drama as Garcia found the water with his approach shot, his six-iron sucking back into the pond.

However, he made a great up-and-down to salvage bogey, while Harrington showed poise under pressure too, ramming home a four-metre par putt.

That left them tied with two holes left, and both hit career five-irons at the brutal par-three 17th, Harrington to three metres, before Garcia responded to the challenge by sticking his shot to inside 1.5 metres.

But Harrington got to putt first, and he made another assured stroke under the most immense pressure, his ball never looking like finishing anywhere except the bottom of the cup.

Garcia, whose sometimes dodgy putting stroke had held up well all day, deserted him at the wrong time, his ball lipping-out.

Advantage Harrington, who took a one-stroke lead to the final hole, where the drama only continued to build.

Both players hit poor drives, but Garcia drew a good lie in the rough and was able reach a greenside bunker with his second shot.

He could not hole his third shot and when Harrington salvaged his par, Curtis, playing behind, was the only danger.

After Curtis bogeyed the 17th he needed an eagle at the last, and when his second shot did not find the hole, Harrington had won his third Major title in six starts.
MAJOR: U.S PGA Championship
Pos Name NAT Hole To Par 1 2 3 4 Total
1 Padraig Harrington IRL F -3 71 74 66 66 277
T2 Sergio Garcia ESP F -1 69 73 69 68 279
T2 Ben Curtis USA F -1 73 67 68 71 279
T4 Henrik Stenson SWE F +1 71 70 68 72 281
T4 Camilo Villegas COL F +1 74 72 67 68 281
6 Steve Flesch USA F +2 73 70 70 69 282
T7 Phil Mickelson USA F +4 70 73 71 70 284
T7 Andres Romero ARG 17 +4 69 78 65 72 284
T9 Jeev Milkha Singh IND F +5 68 74 70 73 285
T9 Justin Rose ENG F +5 73 67 74 71 285
T9 Charlie Wi KOR F +5 70 70 71 74 285
T9 Alastair Forsyth SCO F +5 73 72 70 70 285

T13 Aaron Baddeley AUS F +6 71 71 71 73 286
T15 Stuart Appleby AUS F +7 76 70 69 72 287