Padraig Harrington gets lucky in his third attempt
It was not to be a third unlucky outing for Padraig Harrington at the Port Royal Golf Club. The three-time major winner shot a commanding round of four-under on Wednesday, to clinch the PGA Grand Slam of Golf at Bermuda.
Harrington was playing in place of Ernie Els, who withdrew from the tournament, due to an ankle injury.
Padraig’s closest rival at the Port Royal Golf Club was the US Open Champion Webb Simpson. Webb shot the best round of two days by carding a six-under 65. He lost the title to the Irishman by just one stroke.
"It was unfinished business for me, having lost in two play-offs, so it was nice to come back and win it now," Harrington said.
With this victory, Harrington has become the second European to win this title after Ian Woosnam, who won it way back in 1991.
"I believe I'm playing really good golf. I believe that there's good stuff in my game already, and I believe that there's other stuff that I need to tidy up. I see a lot of good things happening," Harrington said after his victory Bermuda.
Harrington had the slightest of leads by the time the front nine finished. Harrington’s birdie blitz on the back nine sealed the title for him.
Three consecutive birdies on the 11th, 12th, and the 13th hole really set the match up for Harrington.
"Once I holed my (par) putt on 16, I felt it was all over at that stage. It was just a question of getting the last two holes played without too much harm, too much damage being done".
Simpson too applauded Padraig’s decisive birdie run. The US Open champion said that Harrington made the shots at the right time and that proved to be the difference in the end.
Masters Champion Bubba Watson carded an even par 71 to stay three-under for the tournament.
Whereas, Keegan Bradley, who too got a an entry after Rory McIlroy decided not to participate in Bermuda, rallied for a four-under 67 to finish T3 along with Watson.
This victory at the Port Royal Golf Club will boost the Irishman’s confidence. It was his first victory since he last won in 2010.
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