The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Remarkable comeback by Harrington

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 15, 2005

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Sport - Golf

Remarkable comeback by Harrington

PALM BEACH GARDENS (FLORIDA), MARCH 14. Padraig Harrington of Ireland shot a 9-under 63 to erase a seven-shot deficit in the final round, then won the Honda Classic when Vijay Singh missed a 2 1/2-foot putt to bogey the second playoff hole on Sunday.

"I thought it was a gimme," Harrington said. "I shouldn't have missed," Singh said.

After Harrington made a 4-foot putt to par the second extra hole, Singh pushed his par try right and the ball rimmed out. Singh missed a 15-foot birdie try on the first playoff hole that would have given the Fijian the win.

Perennial bridesmaid

If Harrington was lucky, he was also due, he has been a runner-up 26 times in worldwide events.

Ranked eighth in the world, Harrington is believed to be the first player from the Republic of Ireland to win a U.S. PGA Tour event. An assistant to Irish President Mary McAleese phoned to convey her good wishes, and Harrington said he knew his countrymen were watching the tournament on TV.

"I'm sure I kept a few pubs open tonight," the Dublin native said. "It's very good to be the first Irishman. Nobody can take that away from me."

Later Sunday, Irishman Des Smyth won the SBC Classic in California for his first Champions Tour title.

Joe Ogilvie also made the playoff but was eliminated when he bogeyed the first extra hole, missing the fairway and needing four shots to reach the green. — AP

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