Harrington challenge gpes belly-up

South African Trevor Immelman provided the greatest possible advert for the belly putter today when he sentenced Padraig Harrington to the 22nd runners-up finish of the Irishman’s career.

In a brilliant display on the greens the 24-year-old, playing only his second tournament with the longer putter, had a best-of-the-day 65 to win the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open in Heidelberg.

A seven-foot putt on the last for his seventh birdie of the day left defending champion Harrington needing to match it to force a play-off. His approach pitched by the hole, but ran 10 feet past and missed it.

It was not the perfect end, therefore, for Harrington’s long partnership with caddie Dave McNeilly.

The Dubliner has decided to replace him with a close friend.

Darren Clarke shared third place with Swede Joakim Haeggman, while Ernie Els, who earlier in the week called for belly putters to be banned, tied for fifth with England’s David Howell and Dane Soren Kjeldsen.

Third round leader Gregory Havret collapsed to an 82.