2008 - Week 38 Winners

Ireland's golfing annus mirabilis continues with Padraig Harrington (ranked 4th* by Golf Predictor) bagging "our" 7th win and second major of the season. Harrington, whose play down the stretch in a major now resembles that of Tiger Woods, scrambled and putted magnificently on the back nine to take his second consecutive major. He becomes the first European winner of the US PGA Championship since Tommy Armour in 1930 and the first ever to win back to back majors. Considering the famous names of European golf, that's some achievement. Harrington won by 2 shots from Ben Curtis (ranked 64th*) and, yes, poor old Sergio Garcia (ranked 6th*).

Garcia played bogey free for the first 15 holes but his flaky putting stroke ultimately came back to haunt him late on. His slightly unfortunate roll back into the drink on 16 didn't help either (but he really should never have been anywhere near the water). Still, it was an enthralling head to head battle between Harrington and Garcia (again) with Ben Curtis gamely plugging away out of the limelight. Despite being Irish, I wouldn't have minded Sergio winning and I hope he can bounce back to claim his first major next year.

Harrington finished his two rounds Sunday with 66, 66, appropriately shooting the number of the beast on a course known as "The Monster"! Thankfully, his mother didn't name him Damian or the locals may have attacked him with pitchforks! Seriously though, it was a super display by Padraig on the weekend, shooting 8 under on that brutish course to surge to victory. And there he was, berating his own sluggish performance in the first two rounds! Our top pick, Phil Mickelson, finished in a credible tie for 7th.


*excluding the second ranked Kenny Perry, who withdrew.