Magnificent Harrington wins US PGA
Padraig Harrington broke a 78-year European jinx as he won the 90th US PGA Championship at Oakland Hills to claim back-to-back majors after a nerve-wracking duel with Sergio Garcia.
Harrington became the first European since Scotland's Tommy Armour in 1930 to win the year's final major and the first man since Tiger Woods in 2006 to record consecutive major wins, the world number one also having won the Claret Jug and Wanamaker Trophy back-to-back.
It also delivered a third major in six attempts for the Irishman - although it was not without a terrific battle against Garcia that stirred memories of their Open play-off at Carnoustie in 2007, as well as with 54-hole leader Ben Curtis.
American Curtis, the 2003 Open champion, appeared to have fought off the European challenge of Garcia, Harrington and Sweden's Henrik Stenson over the opening holes - having gone into the rain-delayed fourth round with a one-shot lead over the Swede and fellow American JB Holmes with a third-round two-under-par 68.
Playing in three-man groups and with the backmarkers starting on the 10th tee to try and get back on schedule after losing half the day's play to rain on Saturday, Curtis was four under after six - only to unravel with three bogeys around the turn at the eighth, 10th and 11th.
Garcia and Harrington, who had completed a third-round 66 in the morning to the Spaniard's 69, were playing together - starting at one over par - with Garcia the more impressive over the opening holes.
But Irishman Harrington really came alive as the back nine got under away - with birdies at the 10th, 12th and 13th, to draw level with Garcia at three under.
Both players made par at the 15th, but the drama intensified at 16 when Garcia found water with his second shot and was forced to settle for a bogey and although Harrington found the bunker with his second shot, he regrouped and the rivals found themselves in a three-way lead with Curtis at two under with two to play.
Harrington birdied the 17th, with Garcia missing his birdie putt and Curtis bogeying the penultimate hole, so the Irishman teed off at 18 in the lead for the first time in the tournament and a par four at the last ensured he was crowned champion.
