Padraig Harrington showed all of his trademark grit and determination to bounce back from potential disaster to win the Hoag Classic Newport Beach on the PGA Champions Tour in California on Sunday night.
The Dubliner led by a shot going in to the final round, and still held that advantage over Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez with three holes to play.
However, Harrington ran up a double-bogey six at the 16th to trail by one. The three-time Major winner composed himself and birdied his last two holes – a two at the par-three 17th and a four at the long last – to leapfrog his rivals and capture his seventh victory in under two years on the over-50s circuit.
“Throughout my career, the best thing I do is when my back’s to the wall,” Harrington said afterwards.
“When I have to do something, I’m at my best, and I’m at my absolute worst when I’ve got an easy shot.”