Nobody does drama quite like Pádraig Harrington, and in winning the PGA Champions Tour’s Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club, it was about as typically Harrington as a victory is likely to get.
Starting the day with a one shot lead over Thongchai Jaidee and three from Miguel Angel Jimenez, he’d birdie the par-5 third hole but follow by finding the water on the fourth, leading to a double-bogey five that would see him surrender the lead to the Thai.
Birdies at seven, 12 saw him regain a two-stroke advantage and when he left himself seven feet for eagle on 15 it looked as though a rare stress-free Harrington victory was on the cards. But ever the entertainer, that’s not how it would play out. He’d miss the putt low and tap in for birdie, but with Jimenez making his eagle putt and Jaidee making back-to-back birdies on 14 and 15, the lead was back to the minimum.
As imperious as he’d looked over the preceding 10 holes, he’d hack his way up 16 after being fortunate to see his hooked tee shot remain in bounds, and he’d end up making a double-bogey to fall one behind both of his playing partners.
Now chasing, he’d immediately strike back on the par-3 17th, hitting his 20-foot downhill slider with perfect pace and watching it gingerly drift right and fall in the front edge and as Jimenez bogeyed, Harrington and Jaidee were all tied heading to the par-5 closing hole.
Advantage Harrington, who was outdriving both by at least 30 yards throughout the round, but he missed wide right, fortunate to be far enough off line to have a line in, even if the lie was iffy and he had 267 yards remaining. His connection was almost perfect, but a little left, finding the greenside bunker, but neither Jimenez nor Jaidee could find the putting surface so it would come down to short game skills.
Neither Jimenez nor Jaidee could get close and would both make par, and Harrington’s downhill splash shot ran some eight feet past. But the stage was clear for the Dubliner, and though he’d need every millimetre of the cup, the putt dropped and a jubilant Harrington punched the air in celebration.
“When my back’s to the wall, when I have to do something, I’m at my best,” Harrington said in the immediate aftermath. “I’m at my absolute worst when I get an easy shot, so I stood on the tee there, and it’s the easiest tee shot in the world, very similar to the tee shot in 2007 [when he found the hazard on the 72nd hole of the Open Championship at Carnoustie] even though it was a different situation, it’s just, when I’m overconfident I’m not great, I’m much better when I’m in trouble.
“That’s just my personality. I wish it was different – sometimes it’s nice to win easy – but I knew, even after 16, I knew I was playing well, knew I was hitting the ball well, and knew I could finish strong.”
This is the seventh Champions Tour victory that he’s amassed in less than two years, and unsurprisingly, he’s loving life on the circuit.
“I love it out here, I really do,” he gushed. “It’s a great opportunity to relive past glories. I know I messed up the tee shot there, but to hole the putt, you feel like a hero when you do it. It’s like what you were when you were a young lad, so this Champions Tour is brilliant for that. It gives us all another chance.”
Darren Clarke ended the week in a tie for 15th on -5 after signing off with a one-under 70.
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