Final round sparkle from Harrington

"I SPENT much of the day trying to break 80", commented Padraig Harrington who avoided that ignominy by producing a sparkling finish to his final round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills yesterday.

As the scoring sunshine and strong wind dried out the course still further and caused just about everyone to struggle, Harrington stood eight over par for 14 holes before discovering the magic that had eluded him throughout the previous 68.

He birdied the 15th, 16th and 17th to finish with a relatively respectable round of 75 that included a back nine of even par.