Harrington rolls back the years in Portugal
PADRAIG HARRINGTON produced a closing 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 Anders Hansen and Mikko Korhonen by a shot, but it was defending champion Andy Sullivan who emerged as his nearest challenger, with the English Ryder Cup player picking up four birdies on the first five holes. 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 ahead. He finished on 23 under, with Sullivan a stroke back after his own closing 65. ‘It’s always important to get a win every year, a winning year,’ said 45-yearold Harrington. ‘It’s a big win. Portugal Masters is a big tournament. ‘I tried to be really aggressive. The golf course suited me and I just tried to go after every pin I could and make birdies.’ Denmark’s Hansen and Finn Korhonen were tied for third, while former Open champion Paul Lawrie closed with a 67 which saw the 47-year-old Scot finish in the group further back alongside Englishmen Robert Rock and Chris Paisley and American David Lipsky. Lawrie’s finish meant he moved from 121st in the Race to Dubai standings to safely inside the top 110 who keep their cards, while compatriot Scott Jamieson also managed to retain his European Tour status after a 70 yesterday saw him complete the tournament at ten under par. Fellow Scot Craig Lee had already lost his card, along with England’s Eddie Pepperell, after missing the cut on Friday.
RUSSELL KNOX slumped to a two-over-par 74 in the final round of the PGA Tour CIMB Classic in Malaysia. The Scot began the day four shots behind India’s Anirban Lahiri but the pair of them struggled alongside Justin Thomas of America, who shot an eight-underpar 64 to defend his title.