Carnoustie Strikes Again
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by Nejoshi
Once again, it was Carnoustie that gritted its teeth on the 18th hole Sunday, turning the world’s best golfers into its bait. Just like in 1999, the leader after the first 71 holes gave away his lead on the tournament’s last hole through some dubious shot making. Only this time, Padraig Harrington managed to overcome his mistakes, and rebounded to take the Open Championship by defeating Spaniard fan favorite Sergio Garcia in a 4-hole playoff late Sunday night.
Harrington nearly let his dreams of winning the Claret Jug go when he inexplicably double bogeyed 18 after he hit two shots into the Barry Burn when he had a one shot lead, eerily similar to Jean Van de Velde’s horrifying collapse eight years ago.
The drama didn’t stop there. Only moments later, it was Garcia who stepped up to the tee at 18 holding a one shot lead with a chance to win his first major title. The Spaniard had looked so dominant during the tournament’s first three rounds, and looked set to become the wire-to-wire champion, a dominating feat considering this is the British Open. Entering Sunday with a three shot lead, Garcia watched as his nearly insurmountable lead evaporated, first to Argentinean Andres Romero and then to Harrington before the Irish man gave the lead back on 18.
Given a second chance, Garcia only needed par to clinch the Open Championship. But, once again it was Carnoustie that stole the show on the last hole as Garcia hit the bunker with his second shot. However, Sergio still only needed a manageable up and down from there to clinch the title. After his shot from the bunker put him 10 feet from the hole, all that was left for Garcia was to make the putt, something he had done with tremendous poise throughout the week. Garcia’s tournament-clinching putt lipped out and a visibly dejected Garcia was forced to enter a playoff.
The playoff brought an interesting dynamic with Harrington and Garcia, arguably the world’s two best players to have never won a major. One of them would be remembered for overcoming their failure at Carnoustie’s 18th hole, while the other would be stuck with regret and failure.
During the 4-hole playoff, it was Harrington who managed to bounce back from his disastrous better than Garcia, as he birdied the 1st, while Garcia bogeyed that hole. From there, Harrington strategically played it safe during the remainder of the playoff and edged Garcia by one stroke to take home the title.
The course at Carnoustie had been much easier this time around as compared to 1999 when the winning score was a whopping 287 (+6). But, despite the lower scores, the course managed to thwart all challengers when it mattered most. Harrington’s 287 (-7) was capped off by a tremendous final round 67, which allowed him to come from six shots back to catch and eventually pass Garcia.
Third place finisher Andres Romero had perhaps the most volatile Sunday that could ever be imagined as he compiled an amazing 10 birdies in the first 16 holes of his round, but then gave away a shot at the title with a disappointing end to his round.
It began on 17, when Romero, who was carrying a two shot lead, had his shot from the rough ricochet out of bounds and into the 18th fairway. Forced to take a penalty and scramble for his life, the Argentine did well to make double bogey. Then, on 18 facing a par putt that would have put him into the playoff, Romero watched as his 12-foot putt to stay at -7 lipped out of the back of the hole, effectively ending the Cinderella’s hope of becoming the latest no-name to crash the party.
However, the man who should really be scratching his head is Garcia, who must regroup from another disappointing finish at a major. Garcia has been subjected to the same type of criticism that haunted Phil Mickelson during his inability to finish off majors.
The kid that wowed us all at 19 with his amazing duel with Woods in the ’99 PGA Championship is now 27, still in his prime, but still unsure whether or not he has the resolve to win the big tournaments.
