Golf: Harrington relief at shedding 'choker' tag

Padraig Harrington headed for the World Cup in Japan today wearing the smile of a man for whom Christmas has arrived early.

After seven runners-up finishes this season, Harrington made no secret of the relief he felt after sinking a 25-foot birdie putt on the last green to win the Volvo Masters in Spain.

Far more important than the £333,330 cheque, or the place in the world’s top 10, or the second place it took him to on the final European Order of Merit, was the simple satisfaction of proving to himself he was not a choker.

It is the worst thing a professional sportsman likes to be called but it was in the Irishman’s own head that the word was floating around as miss after miss piled up.

The most recent, and the most damaging, setback was the Cisco World Match Play final at Wentworth last month.

Harrington lost to Ian Woosnam after being three-up with 12 holes to play and his performance that afternoon - after he had shot a morning 61- left him disgusted with himself.

Last night, though, he could not be more pleased. After 30 minutes of struggling to speak because of the emotion he felt, the words came gushing out like a torrent.

‘‘Obviously, to win the Volvo Masters is a big deal it’s by far the biggest event I’ve won,’’ he said.

‘‘But it’s a little more special because of my seven seconds this year.

‘‘Every time you ask questions terrible questions sometimes. Are you ever going to win? Are you going to get the breaks? But choking would be top of the pile.

‘‘I certainly thought it was my fault at times and you really, really get down on yourself. If I had made mistakes and been second again here I would have been gutted.

‘‘But to hole a putt like that on the last is every little kid’s dream. I was so focused I had no idea what score I had shot.’’

It was a 66 for a 12-under-par total of 204 the tournament was cut to three rounds because of high winds and when fellow Dubliner Paul McGinley missed from 40 feet a few minutes later, Harrington had won by one.

The pair are partners this week and will be trying to repeat their 1997 World Cup victory together and take the trophy off Tiger Woods and David Duval.

McGinley, friends with Harrington since their schooldays, said: ‘‘Obviously it’s Padraig’s day. He doesn’t back off and he’s been unlucky not to win this season.

‘‘The law of averages was going to balance out eventually. I am happy for him.

‘‘I know what he has gone through with all those second places. People criticised him and that wasn’t deserved.’’

Harrington added: ‘‘It’s unbelievable my feelings built up during the year and I was certainly at boiling point when the putt dropped.

‘‘My name was definitely on this trophy the way it went in. It was moving.’’

McGinley had been two ahead overnight, but had to make a comeback himself after going to the turn in 37 and did so with a 35-foot eagle putt on the 12th and two-putt birdie on the long 16th.

Darren Clarke fell out of the race there with a bogey six, dumping his second shot in the lake when joint leader.

He finished joint fourth, one behind 21-year-old Australian Adam Scott.

McGinley stated: ‘‘I rallied well after a very bad start. I let everyone back in, but regrouped well. And it’s been a good season for me I’ve made great progress and had 12 top-10 finishes from 23 starts.’’

He also earned himself a Ryder Cup debut and could well partner Harrington at The Belfry next September.

His vice-captain there will be Ian Woosnam and his European season ended rather differently.

The former world number one and Masters champion was disqualified for not showing up for the final round.

Woosnam had made the decision to pull out on Saturday, believing the tournament could stay at 72 holes and possibly spill into Monday.

Seven over par and joint 56th of the 64 players, he thought he was better off going home before flying on to South Carolina for the Ryder Cup-style oldies match between America and the Rest of the World starting on Friday.

His failure to notify the European tour of his withdrawal, however, could land him with a fine.