Harrington too good in tight PGA finish
IN: News | US PGA | US PGA Championship (2008) | Round Four | by Bruce Young | 11 Aug 2008
At the completion of a gripping final nine holes of the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills, Ireland’s Padraig Harrington has emerged the winner of his third major championship after a brilliant final hole par save ensured he would take the Wannamaker Trophy, three weeks after holding aloft the Claret Jug.
When played was suspended on Saturday, Harrington was only eight holes into his third round and at even par for his round and still 5 over for the tournament, there was little indication as to what lay ahead. When he returned on Sunday morning to complete his third round he birdied his 9th hole, then added four more birdies in succession during his final nine holes and even a bogey at his last hole of round three could not alter the fact that the Open Champion would be a factor over the final 18 holes.
And so it would prove, although early on in round four it appeared that the event might develop into a three way battle between third round leader, Ben Curtis, Sergio Garcia, and Henrik Stenson.
Curtis took the 54 hole lead when he completed a round of 68 in the morning and led by one into the final round over Henrik Stenson and J.B. Holmes. Holmes disappeared early on day four after a triple bogey at his opening hole while Stenson managed to close the day in equal 4th following a round of 72, a great birdie at the last turning a disappointing day around.
The final day developed into a four way battle although in the latter stages it was Harrington, Garcia and Curtis who settled down to fight it out. All three had the lead at various stages.
The 16th was to prove crucial in the final outcome of the event. Both Harrington and Garcia found the fairway with their tee shots but when Garcia found the water alongside the green with his 6 iron approach, the door was open for Harrington. His response was not good, finishing in the bunker left but after a great up and down by Harrington, including a 15 foot par saving putt, a Spaniard, an American and an Irishman shared the lead at 2 under.
The par three 17th would also provide an insight into the eventual outcome. Harrington had the honour and his five iron was superb, finishing 8 feet from the hole. Garcia responded brilliantly with a five iron of his own to 4 feet. Harrington holed however and now, under pressure to keep pace, Garcia missed and as Harrington walked to the 18th he had the lead by one.
Both Harington and Garcia missed the fairway at the 18th with Harrington finding one of the many fairway traps. He could only advance the ball 80 or so yards and appeared to have made a costly error when he left his second in the right hand rough. Garcia was not much better off from the tee but was able to find the greenside trap with his approach. Harrington still had a 7 iron from the rough and hit a brilliantly thought out shot 14 feet right of the flag and exactly flag high.
Garcia, needing a par to force the issue and hope that Harington would not make his par, left his bunker shot 12 feet from the hole. In the end it did not matter as Harrington holed yet another important par save although this time it was effectively for the title.
Curtis bogeyed the 17th after his very good tee shot finished just of the back and his task was then too great.
Harrington becomes only the fourth player in history to win the Open Championship and the PGA in the same year and has taken his standing in the game to a whole new level in 2008. It was brilliant from a man who struggled in his opening rounds only to produce consecutive rounds of 66 over the final 36 holes.
Already number three in the world, Harrington will move even closer to the number two position currently held by Mickelson. Garcia might also make a good move and could challenge Vijay Singh for his number four position.
Garcia looked very good all week and he appears closer to a major championship than even before. He probably now carries the unwanted mantle of the game’s greatest without a major but it should be not for much longer.
Of the Australasians, Aaron Baddeley was the best in 13th position. He had his chances today but faded over the closing stages. Stuart Appleby was next, just one shot behind Baddeley and in 15th position, Mark Brown did very well to finish 24th in his very first major appearance, Robert Allenby and Geoff Ogilvy were 31st, Steve Elkington 39th, Michael Campbell and John Senden 42nd, Peter Lonard 68th and Richard Green 71st.
The PGA Tour now moves to Greensboro for this week’s Wyndham Championship.
