Harrington ends eight-year wait
Padraig Harrington secured his first European Tour success in more than eight years after pipping 2015 champion Andy Sullivan at the Portugal Masters.
Harrington ended a barren spell stretching back to the 2008 PGA Championship, when the three-time major winner triumphed by a single shot at the Victoria Club de Golfe, with a winning score of 23 under par.
The 45-year-old was blemish free on a final round of six-under par 65 after a stunning recovery on the last hole was sufficient to prevent his contest with Sullivan going to a play-off.
Harrington looked destined to drop a shot on 18 when he landed in the rough on each of his first two shots, but then he chipped to within four feet of the hole, before tapping in for par.
96%scrambling this week.25 chances to get up down around the greens,took 51 shots.2 chip ins and a holed bunker shot pic.twitter.com/VvnGI6LD8i
— Padraig Harrington (@padraig_h) October 23, 2016
“My putting has turned the corner recently, but my chipping was outstanding this week,” said the Irishman.
“I don’t think I failed to get up-and-down at all this week, and had a couple of chip-ins and a holed bunker shot.
“Pretty much all week I just went after every pin because I just felt great around the greens.
“With this type of rough and the texture of the greens, I didn’t feel like there was anywhere I could be short-sided.”
Sullivan’s failure to find the green with his approach shot to the last ultimately cost the Englishman in the defence of his title, while Denmark’s Anders Hansen finished joint third with Finland’s Mikko Korhonen.
Latest
-
NewsMartin Kaymer among frontrunners as Alejandro Canizares sets Austria pace
Former world number one Kaymer shot a 68, leaving him one shot behind Canizares.
-
NewsDustin Johnson bidding to hit back from disappointing Masters defence
Johnson had to hand back his green jacket and hang around to present new champion Hideki Matsuyama with his.
-
-
NewsHideki Matsuyama hopes Masters victory can inspire youngsters back home in Japan
Matsuyama became the first Japanese male to win a major at Augusta.
-
NewsJustin Rose relishing packed major schedule after taking positives from Masters
Rose signed for a closing 74 which included a birdie on the 18th.
-
NewsHideki Matsuyama hopes Masters win ‘opens the floodgates’ for Japan
Historic win was seen around the world.
-
NewsJon Rahm ready for baby duties after finishing with a flourish
The new father was left wondering might have been at Augusta on Sunday.
-
NewsMasters day four: Hideki Matsuyama makes history for Japan
Matsuyama became his country’s first male major winner while new dad Jon Rahm produced the round of the day.
-
NewsHideki Matsuyama survives nervy final round to win Masters green jacket
A one-shot win over Will Zalatoris made Matsuyama the first Japanese winner of a men’s major.
-
NewsHideki Matsuyama remains on course for maiden major title at Augusta
Matsuyama steadied the ship after a shaky start to his closing round.