Horror hole beginning of end for Harrington

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON refused to dwell on one horror hole as he failed in his bid to win the Cisco World Match Play championship.

The Ryder Cup star, last year’s runner-up, twice went out of bounds on the long 17th in his quarter-final against Sergio Garcia - after doing the same in the morning round of his first round match against Mike Weir.

The last hook into the trees cost Harrington the match, Garcia winning two and one after the Dubliner had birdied the two previous holes.

‘‘I just didn’t play well enough,’’ said Harrington, winner of the Dunhill links championship in Scotland two weeks ago.

‘‘I played poorly the last two days. You get weeks like that.

‘‘I tried to play my best, but was always going to hit a few bad shots.’’

Garcia said: ‘‘The 17th is not an easy drive and you could see he was a little nervous and uncomfortable on the tee.

‘‘The finish to the morning round was huge. Four down going into the afternoon it was still game on, but to get a couple back gives you a little extra and I then played great.

‘‘I felt comfortable, but all credit to Padraig for making those birdies on the 15th and 16th this afternoon. I was able to close it out on the next, though.’’