Play-off king Padraig wins The Open Championship!
July 23rd, 2007 | Biomechanics Consultancy, Full Swing Biomechanics, PGA European Tour Golfers, Padraig Harrington, Putting BiomechanicsCongratulations Padraig… what a day!
Exciting to the point of gut-wrenching!!
A superb last round of four under par 67 took Padraig into a play-off with Sergio Garcia for the Open Championship. Four birdies and an eagle three left him one shot ahead playing the fearsome 18th hole, but two visits to the water seemed to have put paid to his chances of winning a first major. But in a dramatic finish Garcia lipped out for par and a four hole play-off ensued. Like a man spared the death penalty, Padraig played superb golf to leave himself with a four foot putt for the title. He holed it, (straight in the middle) to become the first Irishman to win the title in sixty years…
Harrington’s victory, his first Major Championship success in his 37th attempt, saw him become the first European born player to win The Open Championship since Scotland’s Paul Lawrie triumphed at Carnoustie in 1999 and only the second Irishman in history to lift the Claret Jug following Fred Daly’s triumph at Royal Liverpool in 1947.
The 35 year old Dubliner picked up the first prize of €1,106,617 (£750,000) to move top of The European Tour Order of Merit – where he ended last season – and up to sixth on the Official World Golf Ranking, his highest ever placement.
“I think it will take a long time to settle in what I have achieved today,” he said. “The emotion of it, I couldn’t believe it. I know it was only a short putt to win in the end but as it was rolling into the middle of the hole I’m thinking, I’m the Open Champion! It was amazing, incredible to see that putt drop.”
“Always my goal was to win more than one Major and if I crossed the threshold and won one, as I have done now, I always want to win more. I’m going to celebrate like it’s the pinnacle of my career but I’ve got other goals to move on with now. I’m certainly going to enjoy this one though now, and for the foreseeable future. Forever actually.”
There’s no substitute for building a solid putting stroke that won’t break down under pressure and I can’t imagine any more pressure than Padraig was under several times late on Sunday. To be mentioned in his speech, I am very proud of what he has done & achieved, all those hours upon hours, late nights, hitting balls beyond midnight have all paid off, congratulations once again.
First of many Padraig !?!
*His 12th European Tour International Schedule victory in his 260th European Tour event as a professional.
*His first Major Championship victory in his 37th Major Championship appearance.
*Becomes the first European-born player to win a Major Championship since Paul Lawrie at The 1999 Open Championship also at Carnoustie – a gap of 31 Major Championships.
*This victory beats his best previous Major Championship performances of fifth in the US Open Championship in 2006 and tied fifth in the 1997 Open Championship, 2000 US Open Championship, 2002 Masters Tournament, and 2002 Open Championship.
*Wins The Open Championship in his 11th appearance.
*Third consecutive first-time Major Champion, following Zach Johnson (Masters Tournament) and Angel Cabrera (US Open Championship). First time this has occurred since Phil Mickelson (2004 Masters Tournament), Shaun Micheel (2003 US PGA Championship) and Ben Curtis (2003 The Open Championship).
*Second victory on The 2007 European Tour International Schedule, following the Irish Open.
*Third victory of 2007, following the Irish Open and Irish PGA Championship last week.
*Fourth time in his European Tour career he has recorded multiple victories in the same season.
*Gains an exemption into The Open Championship until the age of 65.
*Gains a five year exemption into The Masters Tournament, the US Open Championship and USPGA Championship.
*Gains a place in the 2007 PGA Grand Slam of Golf, joining Johnson and Cabrera.
*Gains a place in the 2007 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and HSBC World Match Play Championship.
*Gains a place in the 2008 HSBC Champions.
*Extends his European Tour exemption until the end of 2017.
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