Harrington gains three stroke victory

Ireland's Padraig Harrington demonstrated his return to form five days before the Ryder Cup, with victory in the German Masters on Sunday.

A closing one-under-par 71, to total 13-under-par 275, put Harrington three strokes in front of Australian Nick O'Hern.

Briton Graeme McDowell, who led by three shots going into the final round, finished four behind in third place with Raphael Jacquelin of France.

Harrington had to come from six strokes back to claim his ninth European Tour title and the $600,000 first prize.

That was the margin he was adrift of McDowell after the second hole as he began the final round with two bogeys.

But a mistake by McDowell, who hit a bunker shot into the lake on the ninth for a double-bogey, helped draw him and Harrington level by the turn.

Then Harrington, whose game had dipped badly in the month before the Ryder Cup, accelerated past a faltering McDowell on the back nine.

That ended any speculation that the Dubliner might be heading for a 26th professional second place.

Another double-bogey by McDowell coming home, cost him the chance of second place.

Harrington led the first round but slid back into the pack on the second day with a 75. A rousing 64 on Saturday proved to watching Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer his highest world-ranked player at number eight was back to form.

"It feels really good, especially after the last two or three weeks," said Harrington. "It would have been nice just to show some form but a win was above expectations.

"I'd been focusing on the wrong things and I'm surprised to turn things around so quickly."

Harrington's win was the third successive victory for a European Ryder Cup team member, after successes for Miguel Angel Jimenez and Luke Donald.

On Saturday Harrington said he had suffered shoulder pain, a recurring problem for him, after overpractising the night before. He insisted after his Sunday round that he would be fit for next week's U.S. tussle, however.

"The shoulder was perfect today. I have constant treatment on it anyway. I just over-did it on Friday night."

Harrington is expecting that his team mates will share the load next week, adding: "I'm hoping I won't be required to play five out of five matches anyway. This time around Europe is a really balanced team."

Langer, who spent the weekend keeping an eye on his Oakland Hills charges left in Germany, said: "I played with my assistant Thomas Bjorn for the first two rounds and I told him 'I suppose the only player I'm a little concerned about is Harrington because he doesn't seem to be playing his best.'

"Thomas said 'don't worry about Harrington. He'll be fine,' and he was right.

"I'm delighted for Padraig and it's fantastic that for the last three weeks I've seen members of my team win."

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