Harrington off pace

Padraig Harrington completed a disappointing fortnight in America when he finished among the also-rans at the Players Championship.

Harrington’s game never really left the launch pad, an opening 76 leaving him down the field, but he showed glimpses of form with a two-under-par 70 in the final round.

He made four birdies and two bogeys in perfect conditions at Sawgrass to finish with a two-over par 290 total.

He said: "It was easy playing on the weekend and I needed to be a bit better.

"The game is okay but my preparation wasn’t great and that showed,2 Harrington admitted, referring to the three weeks he took off before last week’s Wachovia Championship.

Harrington heads back across the Atlantic for the Irish Open in Limerick, one of three tournaments on his schedule before next month’s US Open.

England’s Ian Poulter completed a reasonable week, shooting 69 for one-under 287.

Poulter’s long game was good as he hit all but one green in regulation and had reason to lament not shooting lower.

Poulter and Luke Donald, who started the final round four shots from the lead, were the only British players to make the cut, continuing a mediocre British record in the event.