Wednesday October 24, 2012
Harrington hopes third time’s the charm at Grand Slam of Golf
London: Padraig Harrington, a late replacement in the four-man field for the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda, is banking on third time lucky after twice being beaten in a playoff at the elite, end-of-season event.
Irishman Harrington accepted an invitation to compete at Port Royal Golf Course after British Open champion Ernie Els withdrew on Saturday with an ankle injury.
“Hopefully this is third time a charm,” triple major winner Harrington told reporters on Monday while preparing for the opening round in the 36-hole event.
“I’ve come close twice in Grand Slams and hopefully it will be that close coming down the stretch this week and it would fall in my favour.”
Harrington lost to Argentina’s Angel Cabrera in a playoff for the 2007 title and was edged out by American Jim Furyk in 2008 at the event which traditionally brings together the winners of the year’s four majors.
“It’s funny, I can’t remember the playoff which I obviously lost to Jim Furyk, but I really remember the one I lost to Cabrera,” Harrington said.
“He got the last (hole) to get into the playoff. I thought I had it won. I remember that one all right.”
Before getting his late call-up for Bermuda, Harrington had initially planned to compete in this week’s European Tour event, the BMW Masters at Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai.
“I was due to travel to China on Sunday night,” Harrington said. “So on Friday, I was practising and my manager rang me and said there’s a possibility that Ernie may pull out and would I be interested. I said yeah, I’d be interested.
“The word came on Saturday afternoon, late Saturday afternoon, that Ernie had pulled out. It’s unfortunate for Ernie but it was good for me.”
Harrington accepted his invitation after the second and third alternates, Graeme McDowell and Tiger Woods, both said they were unavailable.
The Irishman will be competing against Americans Bubba Watson, who won this year’s Masters, Webb Simpson (US Open) and defending champion Keegan Bradley over the next two days.
Bradley, winner of last year’s PGA Championship, gained his spot in the field as the first alternate after Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy pulled out due to a scheduling conflict. McIlroy, who clinched his second major title at this year’s PGA Championship, had already committed to the BMW Masters in China.
Left-hander Watson was delighted to be in Bermuda, having book his place in the field by landing his first major victory at Augusta National in April.
The Grand Slam of Golf, billed as “the most exclusive tournament in golf”, was held in Hawaii from 1991 to 2006 before moving to Bermuda in 2007. — Reuters
- Hosts Malaysia make a tame exit at the hands of Germany
- BAM: There will be no more sweeping under the carpet
- It’s the last $traw thanks to the BWF
- Japanese upset Danes and Joo-bong is all smiles
- Denmark not prepared to take on mighty China just yet
- Dane loves to unwind with her Modern Family
- Tommy not afraid to play for country despite loss
- Low Wee Wern fails to clear opening round again in British Open
- Cyclists give the thumbs up to world-class velodrome
- Golf governing bodies ban controversial putter from 2016
- Cycling: Wintry weather may force more Giro changes
- Cricket: Warner fined for Twitter outburst
- Garcia apologises for 'fried chicken' jibe at Woods
- Tomic will play French Open despite troubles - Woodbridge
- Winger Ioane faces fitness race for first Lions test
- Cheruiyot expecting first child, aims to return in 2014
- Ramy wins fiery battle of words and deeds
- Injured Murray withdraws from French Open
- Zhang Jike retains world crown to secure fourth major title in a row
- Joy for Thongchai after Match-Play woe
RSS
