Padraig Harrington’s hopes of a maiden Charles Schwab Cup are still alive after he claimed his third win of the season at the Simmons Bank Championship at Pleasant Valley Country Club.
Harrington held off his 36-hole co-leader Steven Alker and birdied the par-5 18th to win by two shots over 2009 PGA champion YE Yang on seventeen-under-par as he notched his ninth win since joining the Champions Tour.
“Tapping in on 18 to win. I have enjoyed the week here, it’s been very good. I had good fun in the pro-ams. Had a few days off in Little Rock at the start of the week, Monday, Tuesday. We’ve been dining out most nights. Yeah, the whole week has been great, but it can’t beat winning a tournament. Hitting the shots on 18. Yeah, maybe hitting the drive down 18 was my favorite moment because I think I didn’t allow myself the luxury of believing I won, but that really guaranteed the win, so tee shot on 18.”
Having started the week in eleventh place in the Schwab Cup standings, Harrington knew it was win or bust heading into the final event of the 2024 campaign and this win vaults him up 4th in the season long standings Ernie Els, Alker, and Stephen Ames meaning if he wins the finale next week he will win the order of merit.
“I’m told I’m up to fourth, so I’m not sure of the exact numbers. I will have a look. Hopefully a win will be good enough and hopefully, I’m not quite sure how far I’m behind, but you want the best situation is that if you win and really don’t know if second place is good enough for anybody else, I just don’t know the numbers yet.
“As regards my own game, I like the golf course. So really I have a few days off beforehand, basically just don’t try and do anything different, just do the same stuff over. I do like the golf course. You still need to get the breaks and everything when you turn up. First thing is look after yourself, then hopefully things go to plan and get yourself in contention. Then on Sunday, as I said, you’re really never 100 percent sure how it’s going to go, so if you’re in there, you’ve got a shout.”
Harrington will be joined by Darren Clarke in the 36-player Charles Schwab Cup Championship after the 2011 Open champion closed with a round of 70 for a T34 finish on four-under.
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