Padraig Harrington best golfer on earth

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Padraig Harrington wins PGA for 2nd straight major
By Doug Ferguson
Bloomfield Township, Mich. (AP) — Padraig Harrington rallied from three shots behind Sunday to win the PGA Championship, closing with a 4-under 66 at Oakland Hills to become only the fourth player to win the British Open and PGA in the same year.

If the winner was familiar, so was the finish.

Harrington shot a 32 on the back nine, just as he did at Royal Birkdale last month, and he came up with three big putts down the stretch. He made a 12-foot par on the 16th to catch Sergio Garcia and Ben Curtis, took the lead with an 8-foot birdie on the par-3 17th, then closed out the Spaniard with an 18-foot par for a two-shot victory.

"I think I was willing them into the hole at that stage," Harrington said. "You have to get focused and give it a go."

The Irishman ended Europe's 78-year drought in the PGA Championship, and he joined Tiger Woods, Nick Price and Walter Hagen as the only players to win the final two majors in the same year.

Garcia was poised to finally prove he could win a major, leading by one shot in the middle of the 16th fairway. But he hit 6-iron into the water and had to scramble for bogey, then missed a 4-foot birdie putt on the 17th to fall one shot behind. His 6-foot par putt didn't matter when Harrington rolled in his par putt to finish at 3-under 277.

"I feel like I gave it my best," said Garcia, a runner-up in a major for the third time.

Curtis lost a chance to validate his shocking victory in the 2003 British Open. He bogeyed two of the final four holes for a 71, but came away with a big consolation. His tie for second was enough to move him up to No. 7 in the U.S. standings and qualify for the Ryder Cup.

Harrington wasn't even in the picture Sunday morning when players returned to Oakland Hills to resume the third round, some of them playing 36 holes. He was 4 over after nine holes, then ran off four straight birdies on the back nine for a 66 to get into contention going into the final 18.

With another major at stake under gloomy skies, Harrington simply shined.

And for the second straight year, Garcia suffered.

Harrington rallied from six shots behind last year to beat Garcia in a playoff at Carnoustie. This time, he spotted the Spaniard three shots when they made the turn and made four birdies over the back nine.

Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press

"Padraig is the best Golfer on the earth"
Doug Ferguson

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RTE SPORTS NEWS
President McAleese hails Harrington
Monday, 11 August 2008
Irish President Mary McAleese led the praise for Padraig Harrington following his victory in the US PGA Championship at Oakland Hills. Harrington followed his Open Championship triumph at Royal Birkdale with a two-shot win over Sergio Garcia and Ben Curtis last night. It made him the first European to win not just the Open and the PGA Championship in the same year but to win any majors consecutively in the same year.

'Coming so soon after his brilliant win in the British Open, this was a fantastic achievement by Padraig,' said the President.
'It makes him the first European golfer to win back-to-back majors. Padraig just goes from strength to strength. The whole country is immensely proud of him.'

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said the victory was 'incredible' and saluted Harrington's achievement. 'To win two British Opens back to back is quite an achievement but to win two majors back to back is absolutely incredible,' said Mr Cowen.
'To become the first Irishman to win a major in the US ensures his place in sporting history and legend.
'Yet again Padraig's performance on the back nine of a major epitomised everything about the man - skill, courage, determination and sheer class.
'It is easy to run out of superlatives when we talk about Padraig, both as a man and a sportsman.
'He is undoubtedly one of the greatest talents this country has ever produced and has brought great pride and honour to Ireland.'

Sports minister Martin Cullen said the victory at Oakland Hills was an outstanding personal achievement. Speaking from Beijing, where he is attending the Olympic Games, Cullen added: 'As the first European to win the US PGA since Scotland's Tommy Armour in 1930, Harrington's accomplishment is an inspiration. He is also the first person since Tiger Woods to record consecutive major wins.
'I congratulate this truly gifted Irishman on the enormity of his victory. Harrington is a sportsman who has honed his talent to achieve true greatness and he is clearly Ireland's greatest-ever sportsman.'

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Padraig Harrington best golfer on earth

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