Joyfully saluting Padraig Harrington, as the Irishman served notice that he intends to become Europe's most decorated golfer since Nick Faldo, had its downside in the early hours of yesterday morning. What about poor Sergio Garcia? Harrington's stunning triumph on a gripping, extended final day of the 90th US PGA championship denied his Spanish playing partner - one of the most popular figures on courses both sides of the Atlantic Ocean - an overdue maiden victory in one of his sport's four Major championships.
While Harrington, securing back-to-back majors a month after he had made a successful defence to his British Open Championship title at Royal Birkdale, was notching his third big win to move closer to Faldo's impressive haul of six, Garcia was adding another painful memory to his collection. Three times now Garcia has been the "bridesmaid" and on two of those showpiece occasions he has been eclipsed by the steadier golf of Harrington when the pressure has been at its most intense.
Admittedly, Harrington came close to buckling under the strain of winning his first major at Carnoustie a year ago but he did bridge a massive six-stroke deficit on his Spanish friend and rival. That success gave Harrington the belief that he could go on to overcome the joint adversities of appalling weather and a sprained wrist to prevail at Birkdale and when he played himself into contention towards the end of a marathon concluding day on Sunday, you just sensed that he would again come out on top.
Garcia, who looked to have the momentum as the contenders turned for home on a 36-hole final day, handed the initiative to Harrington by finding a watery grave with his approach to the 16th. Harrington seized the moment like the true champion he is turning into. A brilliant putt to save par on 16 was followed by an outstanding birdie at the short 17th and another unerring putt at the last ensured that the third round leader Ben Curtis would not be able to snatch a play-off.
Harrington, who joins Tiger Woods (2006, 2000), Nick Price (1994) and Walter Hagen (1924) as the only players to win the final two majors in the same year, revealed that there is a ruthless streak behind that trademark toothy grin of his. Mindful of the damage he had done to Garcia's morale, Harrington, the first European to capture this event in 78 years, reflected: "I could see the sheer disappointment on Sergio's face. But you have to be very selfish in this situation."
The dejected Garcia was determined to deflect suggestions that he is following a similar path to Scotland's Colin Montgomerie, who has not been able to crown a splendid career with a major victory and has been accused of "choking" at the vital moment. "I came up a little bit short," Garcia added. "But I guess that's the way things go sometimes. I feel like I played well enough to win." For the second successive major, Henrik Stenson, the Dubai-based Swede, emerged as a potential champion before finishing tantalisingly just off the pace.
The big-hitter had to settle for a share of fourth place with the Colombian Camilo Villegas. They finished four shots behind Harrington and two behind joint-runners-up Garcia and Curtis. @Email:wjohnson@thenational.ae