Harrington story has happy ending

Published on Wednesday 8 August 2007 01:25

PADRAIG Harrington heads to the final major of the year, the US PGA in Tulsa, Oklahoma, well aware of the narrow margins that have transformed his career.

The Irishman joined golf's list of major winners with victory at the Open at Carnoustie last month - but it was nearly very different. Harrington came close to blowing his chances after twice hitting into the water on his 72nd hole but chief rival Sergio Garcia then bogeyed to send the pair into a play-off. Garcia had a ten-foot putt to win the title but it lipped out to give Harrington a lifeline which he grasped to take the Claret Jug.

"I always reflect on the difference between success and failure because it is such a fine line, and sometimes not in your control," Harrington said. "Obviously, if Sergio's putt dropped on 18 - that had nothing to do with me - it would have been a different story."

That different story could have involved having to explain one of the more spectacular collapses in championship history.

Harrington added: "I'm long enough in this game to realise that I've had many a day that's gone right for me and many a day that hasn't gone right for me. I would be trying to explain the loss, and it would be very hard, but I would be explaining it in the exact same way as I'm trying to explain the win."

Harrington has seen the story from the other perspective, however, after missing out at the US Open last year. Three closing pars would have been enough for victory at Winged Foot but instead three bogeys cost him.

"I had three pars to win the US Open. Okay, I know I made three bogeys and you can think that was a really poor finish. But I know how I felt in my head and I knew from there, that I could definitely win a major. So by losing that one, I knew I could win another."

Holder Tiger Woods is looking to salvage his season this week. The world No 1 has won four times this year - his latest victory coming at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational on Sunday - but not in a major.

"Golf-wise it's been pretty good but not great," said Woods, who has eight top-ten finishes this year, won more than 4 million and not missed a cut. "I just think the major championships are valued that highly, and I've come close. I just haven't gotten it done yet."

This year's three major winners have been grouped together at Southern Hills Country Club, with Harrington, Masters champion Zach Johnson and US Open champion Angel Cabrera teeing off at 7:10pm BST tomorrow. Colin Montgomerie tees off at 8:25pm BST in the company of Stewart Cink and Ernie Els.