USPGA Championship
Oakland Hills Country Club, Michigan
Harrington's round took off around the turn with birdies at the 10th, 12th and 13th to draw level with Garcia at three under. At the 14th Harrington's approach flew the green and he couldn't get up-and-down and Garcia once again had a one shot advantage.
On the 15th Garcia hit a superb approach that bounced in and out of the hole but ended up 10 feet away. "Funny enough, I think that Peter Kostis told me it hit the pin and went in the hole and came out," Garcia said. "So I went and asked him because I saw the ball jump a little bit to the left and I thought, you know, I wanted to know if it was on the green or not and he told me what happened." Afterwards Harrington?s ball came to rest the same distance from the cup. Both men missed and Garcia held onto his slender advantage.
Things came to a head on the 16th when Garcia?s approach found a watery grave and Harrington's found sand. Garcia dropped and pitched to the green. Harrington played a poor bunker shot but holed an incredible par putt from 25 feet, Garcia missed. The pair were now tied on two under with Curtis who had birdied the 14th.
Harrington's will to win was highlighted on the 18th. After finding sand from the tee he caught his second shot fat and left himself a seven-iron for his third. He rifled that in to 10 feet and holed the putt. It meant Garcia couldn't catch him.
Curtis needed an eagle two to tie but that was one miracle to many for the American. He had to settle for a tie for second with Garcia. "I guess if you're going to finish second and they tell you that you qualify for the Ryder Cup, I think that you'll take it," he said. "It almost is a victory in itself. It was a goal that I set.
Harrington remains at number three in the World Ranking but his standing as a player has risen dramatically. He's now being touted as the main rival to Tiger Woods when he returns from injury.
"It's a big step now to move up now and start competing on a different level. I've got Phil, I've got Tiger ahead of me." He said. "I do believe I can improve as a player. There's plenty of my game to improve."
After his third runner's-up finish in a Major Garcia moves to fourth in the World Ranking. He was philosophical about missing out to Harrington again. "It's not disappointing. Every time you're out there trying to win a Major, you know, what can you do, there can only be one winner. I'm fine."
