Ryder Cup vice-captain Harrington wins first tour title in eight years

Padraig Harrington produced a closing bogey-free 65 to win his first European Tour title in eight years at the Portugal Masters.

The Irishman came into the final day in Vilamoura trailing overnight leaders Anders Hansen and Mikko Korhonen by a shot but it was defending champion Andy Sullivan who emerged as his nearest challenger.

Sullivan won the event by nine shots last season and made a big charge once again, picking up birdies on four of his first five holes on his way to a 22 under par total.

Harrington found himself three shots off the lead at one point but after turning in 33, a holed bunker shot on the 11th sparked a run of three birdies in four holes to move him ahead.

Sullivan joined him at the summit with a birdie on the 17th but Harrington repeated the feat on the par five and held his nerve down the last after a fortunate bounce off a spectator gallery.

The win is Harrington’s 15th on the European Tour and his first since he won his third major at the US PGA Championship in 2008. His last win on the PGA Tour came at the Honda Classic in March last year.

“I tried to be really aggressive,” he told www.europeantour.com.

“The golf course suited me and I just tried to go after every pin I could and make birdies. I have a pretty good short game that was on form this week.”

Semi-retired Dane Anders Hansen and Finn Mikko Korhonen were tied for third at 21 under, with English duo Robert Rock and Chris Paisley, and Scot Paul Lawrie in the group a further shot back.

This was the final week for players to get into the top 111 in the Race to Dubai.

Picture: Getty. Padraig Harrington with the trophy.