Harrington wins Open in play-off

[presto]

Padraig Harrington pipped Sergio Garcia in a four-hole play-off to clinch the 136th Open Championship at Carnoustie after one of the most dramatic finishes in recent years.

The Irishman won his maiden major title despite blowing a one-shot lead in the Barry Burn in regulation play in scenes reminiscent of Jean van de Velde's infamous collapse in 1999.

The 35-year-old Harrington put two shots into the stream in front of the 18th en route to a double-bogey six to allow Garcia, playing in the final group, a par putt to win the Open.

But the Spaniard, who was three clear overnight, missed. And Harrington beat his Ryder Cup team-mate by one stroke over the extra holes to become Europe's first major champion since Scotland's Paul Lawrie won a play-off over the same links eight years ago.

"If I'd lost after what happened on 18 I don't know what I would have thought about playing golf again," said Harrington, who carded 67 to finish seven under.

"I have come a long way. When I turned pro I would have settled for becoming a journeyman. It's been great to be named as someone who could win a major. To actually go and do it, well I don't know what to think."

 I wasn't as sharp as I needed to be, tee to green, to win a major championship

Defending champion Tiger Woods

The Dubliner, European Order of Merit winner in 2006, also became the first Open winner from Ireland since Fred Daly triumphed at Hoylake in 1947.

For Garcia, who carded a two-over 73, it will be a bitter pill to swallow after leading for the first three rounds.

Many people were hoping the popular Spaniard would stroll to his coronation on Sunday. But Garcia let slip a third opportunity to win a maiden major title after beginning the final day in the last group.

He buckled alongside Tiger Woods at the 2002 US Open at Bethpage and slipped to fifth when playing alongside Woods in last year's Open at Hoylake.

Garcia has finished fifth, fifth and second in the last three Opens and now has 13 top-10 finishes in majors. But his reputation as one of the great players of his generation will continue to suffer unless he can convert a good performance in a major into a win.

"To tell you the truth, I don't feel like I did anything wrong," said Garcia. "I really didn't miss a shot in the play-off. I hit unbelievable putts. They just didn't go in.

"Every time I get in this position, I never have any room for error. I should write a book on how not to miss a shot and not win a play-off."

Garcia began the day at nine under and edged to 10 under before suffering a mid-round stumble, starting with a wayward drive at the fifth.

 
Garcia's birdie putt in the play-off at 18 just missed

He dropped strokes at five, seven and eight and was caught by Argentina's Andres Romero. The 27-year-old Romero, no relation to Argentine great Eduardo Romero, slipped back immediately after driving under a gorse bush and Harrington, six shots behind at the start, replaced him alongside Garcia at seven under after three birdies on the front nine.

Garcia wore a haunted expression as Romero bounced straight back with birdies at 13 and 14 to make it a three-way tie at the top.

Australian left-hander Richard Green had set the clubhouse target at five under after equalling the course record of 64, a score also posted by American Steve Stricker on Saturday.

But Stricker, in the final group with Garcia, slipped back early and the rest of the chasing pack were also relegated to bit-parts.

Ernie Els had got to within two shots of the lead but his challenge faded on the back nine and he finished five under.

Defending champion Woods, bidding to win three Opens in a row, threatened to challenge early on as he birdied the fourth and fifth to move to three under. But the trademark charge never materialised and he carded a 70 for two under overall.

"I wasn't as sharp as I needed to be, tee to green, to win a major championship," said Woods. "I had a chance, I hung around and at least gave myself an opportunity."

Britain's bid again fell flat, with Justin Rose and Paul Broadhurst the best-placed at two under.

Romero went clear on his own at eight under with a third straight birdie at the 15th and reached nine under with yet another birdie on 16.

Garcia battled his demons for four holes but showed impressive grit to edge back to eight under after 13 before Harrington leapfrogged him with a stunning eagle three on the 14th to join Romero in the lead.

But the Argentine squandered all his good work with a double bogey on the 17th after a vicious ricochet from the concrete steps of the Barry Burn fired his ball out-of-bounds.

Harrington briefly led on his own at nine under before the rejuvenated Garcia rejoined him with a birdie on 14.

Romero ran out of steam and bogeyed the last to finish six under but Garcia's bogey after a sloppy chip on 15 left Harrington one clear at nine under.

History was in danger of repeating itself when Harrington's drive found the Barry Burn on the 18th.

Memories of Van de Velde's triple-bogey seven via the water when needing a four to win in 1999 came flooding back.

Harrington dropped out but again found the water with his second shot, and ran up a six to drop back to seven under, leaving Garcia needing a par to win.

After a good drive, the Spaniard found the greenside bunker with his approach and splashed out to 10 feet, needing to hole it for the title.

His miss set up the play-off and Harrington raced to a two-shot lead with a birdie to Garcia's bogey after the first hole. They both parred 16 but Harrington's bogey on 17 gave Garcia hope.

Harrington changed his strategy and chose to lay-up short of the 18th green this time. He chipped to 20 feet for three and Garcia played out of the greenside bunker to 10 feet, also in three.

When Garcia rattled his putt past, Harrington needed to hole from five feet for victory.

The roar that accompanied the disappearing ball confirmed Harrington had won the title and rendered the Irishman speechless.