Paddy Take

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP – Remembering well his special relationship with The South course at Oakland Hills Country Club, Padraig Harrington took home his second major championship of the 2008 golf season.

Four years ago, Harrington led a European romp in the 35th Ryder Cup Matches at Oakland Hills. Sunday, Harrington finished off two memorable rounds, shooting back-to-back 66s en route to the 2008 PGA Championship title, his third major championship in the last six majors.

Harrington hit clutch putts on his final three holes – a 20-foot par save after a bunker shot, a 10-foot birdie on the brutal 17th hole and a 15-footer for par on the final hole to save himself from a fairway bunker he found off the tee – for a two-shot win over Sergio Garcia and Ben Curtis. The three were the only golfers under par for the week, much like the 1996 U.S. Open at Oakland Hills.

Harrington’s heroics overshadowed the brilliant ball-striking of Garcia, who missed crucial birdie putts on No. 15 and No. 17 inside 10 feet and put his approach in the water on No. 17. Harrington becomes the first European since Tommy Armour of Scotland in 1930, to win the PGA Championship. He  is also the fourth player to win the British Open and PGA Championship in the same year, joining Walter Hagen (in 1924), Nick Price (1994) and Tiger Woods (2000 and 2006). More impressive, he is the first European to win the British Open and PGA Championship in the same year and the first European to win consecutive major golf championships.

Despite the obstacles, this was a memorable major with the back nine’s high drama. Bad weather and smaller crowds (likely due to the economy and a lack of Tiger Woods) didn’t dampen what was a fabulous tournament.