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Padraig Harrington of Ireland and Shane Lowry punch after Harrington tee off on the 17th hole during the final round of the 2021 PGA Championship on the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
Brian Keogh
Pádraig Harrington turned back the clock alongside buddy Shane Lowry and produced an exciting Sunday load for his fourth major before they reached the top 5 finishes in the PGA championship on Kiawah Island.
As Rory McIlroy with almost all aspects struggling of his game and finishing with a 72 to finish 50th in the clubhouse, it was veteran Dubliner Harrington, 49, who threatened to set the front runner a formidable goal while he and Lowry played with the glee and giving up one of their regular chipping competitions.
Harrington acted like a man half his age, mixing an eagle and four birdies with two bogies n to roar within three strokes of the four-hole lead.
A bogey on the 15th ruined his chances and when he parried home for a 69 he at least enjoyed Lowry’s personal fight « Halved » when he birdwatched 16th and hit 69.
It meant they finished fifth in the clubhouse in fifth place and top 10 for several Irish in a major since McIlroy 2014 won the Hoylake Open, with Lowry and Graeme McDowell in ninth place.
« I’ll say this was probably my best round of golf I’ve had on the course in a long time, » said Harrington. “It’s amazing when you play with a friend. It definitely helped both of us relax and just play golf, and we both played very well. We could both have done a few better shots. “
He immediately ruled out playing another Ryder Cup – » I’ve been in the tooth for too long now, sweating through five rounds of golf and everything that goes with it. «
But he rejects the dream of a fourth major, even if his putting is a major handicap at this level, as he is leaving for his 50th birthday in August.
« Yes, we all dream that it can happen and we are pushing for it and I keep getting up in the morning, « he said. “Let me keep practicing. That gives me a little bit of confidence that I’m not too far away. A lot of my big hits came after seeing and building on some good things, and I’m seeing some good things this week. “
Harrington tapped a 7-foot eagle in the second and third and a 5-foot eagle in the third, before getting back on the bogies in the fourth and fifth by hitting a 15-foot in the seventh Run and did a 3-foot run in the ninth to turn in 33 and get in the top seven to go on two under nine holes.
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He had been looking for a chance at the back nine in a major since The Open in 2015, and with the leaders mixing birdies and double bogeys in their opening holes, a miracle seemed possible when Harrington missed opportunities from 15 Foot on the 11th and 11th was followed by 17 feet on the 13th with a magical chip-in birdie from 20 yards at 230-yard 14th.
It got him under for day four and within three shots of that Lead to three under.
But his title chances were a blow when he failed to get out of a garbage bunker on the 15th and then screwed the par-5 course 16, where playing partner Shane Lowry Birdie got himself to two -Under moving next to him.
« Shane, as we know, is a great player and enjoys playing great golf courses on big occasions, » Harrington said of Lowry’s chances of forming his team.
« Yeah, he likes the wind. There is a quality in him; He wouldn’t be on a tee and wouldn’t fear anyone. There are nine people there right now, but if you want to make a choice you have to impress because there are a lot of people. I seem to have an abundance of players battling for these three picks.
« You have to think of six or seven players who could be in the race and you just have to impress.
» So he did a good job today. He certainly didn’t harm himself and we’ll see about how the next few months are going. ”
As for Lowry, he might regret a cold week on the green, but he also knows he has two more majors and Olympics to automatically qualify for Harrington’s team.
« I’m going to go away this weekend and feel what if, but that’s a great feeling to feel like I was close to having a big chance this week, » said Lowry, who was last one Missed 6-foot birdie and went away delighted, impressing the skipper and collecting more Ryder Cup points.
« This is another good week for this. It’s always good to play well under the gun in front of him because I play a lot of golf with him, practice laps, but it was pretty nice for him too, mic h seen in the competition. Until then, I have a lot of golf to play. «
As for Harrington, he was amazed and added, » When Paddy stepped in on the 14th, I felt Paddy’s got a chance here. “I tried to cheer him on and play my own game but in all honesty it was one of the best rounds of golf I’ve ever had to play with Paddy today. It was so much fun. «
He added, » He didn’t lose it, did he? He’s still the ultra competitor. You know, he hit 14 and then bombed a drive down 15. I thought, wow, if Paddy can do a or two on the way he has a good chance here. Yeah, he’s 50 in August so god help the guys on the senior tour. «
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