Buoyant Harrington looks towards Masters

Padraig Harrington will set his sights on next month’s Masters in Augusta after landing the Honda Classic yesterday, his first win on the PGA Tour.

The 33-year-old, despite being an almost-permanent fixture in the top 10 of the world rankings, has forged a reputation of failing to back up his form with titles.

But a 27th career runner-up finish was avoided when the Irishman snatched victory at Palm Beach Gardens after a play-off with Vijay Singh and Joe Ogilvie lasted two extra holes.

“I’ve worked very hard at my game to get to this level,” Harrington said. “It does mean a lot to me now that I’ve done it.”

The omens to pick up a deserved first major appear to be good, with last year’s Honda Classic winner Todd Hamilton going on to win the British Open.

While Harrington will surely be in contention for a major during the remainder of his career, the green jacket could be a possibility next month given his recent form.

Harrington has only recently committed full-time to the US Tour, but took immense pride in becoming the first Irishman to win a title on the tour.

“I’m sure I kept a few pubs open tonight,” he told official site www.pgatour.com “It’s very good to be the first Irishman. Nobody can take that away from me.”

Harrington staged a thrilling comeback to take the title, firing a nine-under-par 63 to equal the course record and force a play-off.

Shooting a stunning final round that included 11 birdies, Harrington finished at 14 under par and at one stage had a chance of breaking 60 for the round.

“When you start making birdies, like I made 10 of the first 13 holes and made six in a row, I’m thinking 59,” Harrington admitted.

“My bubble was burst on 14 where I dropped a shot and I was a little unlucky on 15 to drop a shot.

"Thankfully I birdied 17 and I wasn’t sure if 14 under would be good enough, but it was just enough.”

Ogilvie dropped out of the play-off after the first hole following a bogey. Singh, who last week lost his reign at the top of the world rankings, had the chance of victory but missed a 15-foot birdie attempt at the first extra hole, and bogeyed the second.

“I was a little disappointed,” Singh said. “I hit that putt a little too hard. I should have just rolled it in, it was straight down grain. Obviously you can’t miss putts like that in the play-off.”