Harrington wins title on 72nd hole

Irishman Padraig Harrington lived up to his star billing to claim the US$1.5 BMW Asian Open by one stroke today after holing a clutch 10-foot par putt at the last hole.

Harrington, ranked eighth in the world, endured a stuttering finish at Ta Shee Golf and Country Club before closing with a three-under par 69 to pip India’s Jyoti Randhawa by the narrowest of margin. Harrington’s four-day total of 15-under 273 earned him his sixth European Tour title and was worth US$250,000.

Randhawa, one of Asia’s brightest talents, finished runner-up after firing a spectacular 64 for the week’s lowest round. He nearly ended in a play-off for the BMW Asian Open title as Harrington scrambled home before savouring victory with crucial pars on 16 and 18.

“I won the pro-am and got a little trophy but it’s nice to get the big one,” said Harrington, who finished second on the European Order of Merit recently after a season-long battle with South African Retief Goosen.

“It’s great and finally, European number one. It’s nice to start like this and it’s always good when you win. I’m happy as I came here to win the BMW Asian Open. Last season, I played badly in the last three events because I was trying to win the merit list and was not focussed enough to win the individual events. This week, I came out here just looking to win this and thankfully, I did it,” he added.

The BMW Asian Open is the opening leg on the 2002/03 European Tour International Schedule and the third last stop of this season’s Davidoff Tour.

The plucky win was Harrington’s second individual success in as many months as he won the Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland in October. He was also a key member in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory in late September.

The 30-year-old Randhawa started the day seven off the pace but got off to a blistering start by reeling in four birdies in the opening six holes. He moved to 14-under for the tournament after 15 holes with birdies on 10, 11, 13 and 15 but failed to catch Harrington.

“I’m certainly pleased with this 64. I could have easily made two more birdies on the back nine but missed four-foot putts. They were so close. I guess I just got a bit excited and the pressure got to me a bit. I felt I had a chance to catch up if I could get a few more birdies but I guess I just jumped the gun and missed two small ones. Otherwise, I would have been right up there,” said Randhawa.

The lanky Indian, who was the first round leader after an opening 65, found consolation in his second-place finish as a cheque of US$166,660 saw him leapfrog to the top of the Davidoff Tour Order of Merit with a haul of US$246,667, just over US$11,000 ahead Thai star Thongchai Jaidee, who finished sixth on Sunday after a 69.

Randhawa could not help but rue a poor second day when he stumbled to a 75. “If I had gotten away with a one under that day, I would be up there. But at least I shot a 64, so I’m happy. Today was just a fabulous ball-striking day. Everything was perfect. I’m looking forward to the last two events on Tour and the Order of Merit race,” he said.

Harrington trailed overnight leader Maarten Lafeber of Holland by one heading into the last round but quickly seized control of the tournament with four birdies in his opening seven holes. A bogey on nine was quickly offset with a birdie at the next hole.

With three holes to play and a two-shot cushion in hand, the Irishman got his foot off the pedal and nearly paid the price. He drove into water on 16 but holed a gutsy eight-footer for par.

On 17, he missed the green and chipped poorly to drop a second bogey and endured anxious moments at the par three 18th hole when his tee shot missed the green. His chip fell 10 feet short but he drained the putt confidently, clenching his fist with delight when the ball disappeared into the cup.

“In the last couple of holes, I was thinking that pars would be good enough and obviously, when you get into that frame of mind, you struggle to make pars. I had a shocking lie on 18 and then I had to putt through a double-break. It was good to hole that putt,” said Harrington.

Overnight leader Lafeber carded a 73 to fall into a share of third place with American Andrew Pitts and South African Trevor Immelman. Pitts, who fired a 70, battled Harrington all day but his title hopes dipped on 11 when he found water with his tee shot.

Pitts said: “I played well and put myself in good position going into the back nine. I got a terrible break on 10 when my third shot hit the pin and came off the green. On 11, I just made a bad swing at the wrong time (where he found water for a double bogey). After a birdie on 12, I thought I would give myself a chance if I played good golf coming in but I didn’t hit any quality shots in the last four holes.”

Immelman, who has finished runner-up three times this year, never got going after a double bogey on the fourth hole and his hopes ended when his tee shot on 16 found water as well. He signed for a 72.

“The double bogey at four was a big setback. I was in between yardages and made possibly my worst swing of the tournament. It ended up being a block fade that ended in a lateral water hazard to the right of the green,” said the 22-year-old South African.

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