TURNBERRY, Scotland — Padraig Harrington failed in his bid to become the first player in more than 50 years to win the British Open three straight times.
The good news?
“I’ve another 28 of these to come back to,” Harrington said, alluding to Open champions invited back until they are older than 60.
Harrington opened steadily with a 69, but he struggled when the wind arrived off the Ayrshire coast. The 74 was a setback Friday, the 76 knocked him out of contention and he closed with a 73.
“It had to come to an end at some stage,” Harrington said. “I know I will come back and compete in many more Opens and win some more majors.”
It was the second time this year he has gone for three in a row at a major. At the Masters, he was trying to join Tiger Woods and Ben Hogan as the only players to win three straight majors. He wasn’t close at Augusta National, either.
Harrington has been slowed all year from spending too much attention on his swing and not enough to scoring.
He is getting closer, but time is running out.
“The key now is to be ready for the PGA, and that’s really what I’m looking at,” he said. “I believe my game will be good and strong going into that, and that’s what I’ve got to aim for.”
Harrington will be the defending champion at the PGA Championship, played next month at Hazeltine near Minneapolis.
Magnolia Lane.
Chris Wood has played in two majors and has finished in the top five both times.
He was a 20-year-old amateur last year at Royal Birkdale when he tied for fifth, which made him eligible for this British Open.
By matching the low score of the final round, a 3-under-par 67, Wood wound up one shot out of the playoff and tied for third.
“Last year I think helped me an awful lot today,” he said. “It’s weird to say I’m only 21 and I’ve contended in two majors.”
The top four at the British Open are eligible for the Masters, so Wood will get his first trip to Augusta National.
Major moments.
Tom Watson had at least a share of the 54-hole lead in a major for the 13th time, one fewer than the record held by Tiger Woods and one more than his old rival, Jack Nicklaus.
Watson’s success rate isn’t nearly as high, however.
Woods has won all 14 times he has had a 54-hole lead, while Nicklaus was 10-2, losing only to Charles Coody in the 1971 Masters and to Watson in the 1977 British Open at Turnberry. Watson is now 6-7.
The Associated Press
