Padraig Harrington closes last 3 holes with clutch 1-putts to beat Sergio Garcia and Ben Curtis to win PGA Championship
If you missed today's PGA Championship, you missed the most exciting finish at a major this year, even better than Tiger Woods's win at the US Open, which had to go an 18-hole playoff. The drama in the final 3 holes was so intense, with 2-time major winner Padraig Harrington battling the best player not to win a major, Sergio Garcia, and major-winner Ben Curtis. The final 3 holes at Oakland Hills are all monsters, which only added to the drama. The PGA Championship played way more difficult than the U.S. Open did this year at Torrey Pines.
Padraig Harrington has now won back-to-back majors, squeaking out a victory after a very tight duel with playing partner Sergio Garcia (who led for most of the final round) and Ben Curtis.
The pivotal point in the Championship occurred on the final 3 holes. Sergio, who was in the lead by 1, faded his 6-iron too far. It hit the bank and fell back into the water. Sergio saved a bogey with a clutch 5-footer, after Harrington sunk a clutch 15-footer for par. Then, on the par-3 17th, Harrington stuffed his 5-iron to 5 feet. Sergio then stuffed his 5-iron to 4-feet. Harrington sunk his birdie, but Sergio lipped his out. Harington -3, Sergio -2, Curtis -2.
On the 18th, Paddy tried to make things interesting by hitting a terrible drive into the bunker and even worse lay up shot, which bounded right back into the thick rough. Paddy caught a lucky break by drawing a good lie. Paddy made up for it by muscling out his third shot to 15 feet. Harrington sunk the clutch putt to seal the deal -- again!! That's 3 straight one putts on the final 3 holes. Amazing!!!!
Meanwhile, Ben Curtis bogeyed the 17th after his 5 iron bounced off the green into a bad lie and Ben could not get up and down.
Poor Sergio. He played well all day, but Harrington is now the closest thing to Tiger Woods.
7 Comments:
Paddy is playing like Reteif of the early 2000's. Clutch putting. Awesome.
I like the way he gets on with the job, but the guy's as interesting as a box of books on ten pin bowling.
Padraig is quickly putting himself up there with the greats and he's not finished yet. What a boost for Ireland.
Padraig is really putting himself up there with the greats. What a boost for Ireland.
Padraig is an amazing player, but I agree with aussie golfing, he's totally lacking in charisma. For a die hard golf fan this isn't important, but for any kind of transcendancy beyond the pure golf fann, it's vital.
I'm guessing the ratings on this ultra exciting tournament were abysmal, and the galleries were quite sparse for a major.
Sergio was playing awesomely too and he evokes much stronger feelings, both positive and negative, than Mr. Harrington.
Arguably, a Sergio win would have been better for the game at this juncture.
And I really like Padraig, BTW, he's a distant cousin of mine. :o)
This guy has the most clutch putting I have ever seen. what a great player to watch.
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Garcia's ungratious reaction after losing, even allowing for his disappointment, was very churlish. He implied that Harrington was lucky and got the breaks which he didn't. Harrington didn't put the ball in the ball in the water on 16. He didn't miss a 40" putt on 17. He just played better than Sergio and bitter as it was for Sergio to swallow, he should have shown some class by acknowledging that instead of moaning about his bad breaks. I used to like him a lot but he's gone way down in my estimation. I hope he doesn't win a major anytime soon.
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