Major contender Padraig Harrington took his Open disappointment on the chin and declared - roll on the US PGA.

The Dubliner's18th hole bogey eventually meant that he missed out on the four-man play-off by one shot and tied for fifth

But he was focussing on the positive as he prepared to jet out to Holland yesterday for this week's TNT Open at Hilverschum.

He said: "Obviously I didn't know at the time that Ernie Els would drop those shots. But I'd always prefer to have my destiny in my own hands than to only have a 20 percent chance in a play-off."

It was almost as well that Harrington missed out having lost all three play-offs he has participated in so far in his career.

In 1999 he lost to Sergio Garcia in the Linde German Masters. Then in 2000 Roger Chapman pipped him in the Brazil Rio de Janeiro 500 years Open before Vijay Singh took the Malaysia Open in extra time last February.

But his third top 10 finish in the a Major this season after finishing tied for fifth at the Masters in April and eighth in the US Open last month.

"I was happy when I finished and then disappointed when I saw what happened. I was gutted watching the play-off but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

"I've gained a lot of positives from the week and I'm feeling very optimistic about what the future may hold in terms of the Majors.

"The US PGA is next and my preparation for the majors seems to be working very nicely. I felt comfortable at Muirfield, except for the greens, but you can't putt well all the time and putting is of my best assets."

Harrington remains 10th in the official golf world rankings, but the way he handled Muirfield's 449-yard finishing hole marked him out as a man for the future.

The 30 year old stayed cool when his drive dived left into a fairway bunker and nestled under the face and played an intelligent shot onto the spectator path.

Harrington, Clarke and McGinley will be in the field for the US PGA at Hazeltine National in Minnesota from August 15-18.

But McGinley is relaxed about the fact that he failed to get back in the world's top 50 after missing the cut at Muirfield.

"I know what I have to do to get back," he said. "I'm hitting shots I don't normally hit but don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

Still ranked 51st, McGinley was working with Harrington's coach Bob Torrance on the range on Saturday as he usual coach Pete Cowen was busy helping his other clients.

Meanwhile Des Smyth did his candidacy for the Ryder Cup captaincy no harm with a tremendous performance in his 22nd Open Championship.

Smyth led the event at several stages but saved his worst performance for last as he finished on level par alongside the likes of current Ryder Cup players Tiger Woods, Bernhard Langer and Jesper Parnevik.

He said: "I suppose it doesn't do me any harm. That's all I can say. I just hope an Irishman gets it and if they ask me I'll be happy to accept.

"I'm going to try for my card on the US Seniors Tour in November but they won't give me anything before that I don't imagine."

Clarke was also backing Smyth for the Ryder Cup captaincy after the Drogheda man's 28th place finish at Muirfield.

"I've said before that I think he should be captain anyway," said Clarke. "I don't think it makes that much difference but it's great to see him up there and great to see him playing great.

"I don't know what would make him a good captain but I think he will be. He knows all the players, he's played Ryder Cups and you can't really ask any more than that.

"He is one of the most popular guys out on tour anyway so I don't think that will be an issue."

Meanwhile Graeme McDowell marked his Challenge Tour debut by finishing second in the Golf Challenge in Hamburg.

McDowell shots rounds of 69, 68 and 70 to finish just three shots behind winner Iain Pyman in the weather -affected event.

Top

© Brian Keogh 2002

Back