Harrington takes Dunhill

A WEEK after an inspiring role in Europe's Ryder Cup victory over the US, Ireland's Padraig Harrington kept his nerve again to claim the biggest cheque of his golfing career yesterday.

In a thrilling climax to the Dunhill links championship at St Andrews the Dubliner, having repeatedly stared the 18th runners-up finish of his career in the face, beat Argentina's Eduardo Romero at the second hole of a sudden death play-off.

It earned Harrington £514,535 (€822,000) and stopped 48-year-old Romero becoming the oldest winner in European tour history.