Padraig Harington secured one of the last seats on a special near nine-hour Turkish Airlines and despite failing to qualify automatically for the Thursday starting Nedbank Challenge.
Harrington posted a last round 72 for a six-under par tally and a share of 35th but in the bigger Nedbank picture was three place shy of qualifying for the event before being handed a post Turkish Airlines Open invitation to the event around an hour after the event ended.
“I’m in the Sun City field anyway as I have been afforded an invitation,” he said.
“I have to say, and I am being honest about this, but I would hate to be a tour pro playing for his card every day as it is just so annoying. I don’t mind playing to win a tournament but it’s really hard to play when you are trying not to make Sundays.
“It’s just horrible and I played great for three rounds, and today I putted well and scrambled great but you never would want to be hanging into a position as it’s not an easy thing to do, to be defending.”
Shane Lowry was joining Harrington the flight to South African shooting a closing 68 for an 11-under par tally and moving up one spot to 41st on the Race to Dubai.
Lowry’s last round was a mix of four birdies and just the one bogey, and in sharing 14th place on 11-under par he was the best of the three Irish competing in Turkey.
“It’s an alright week considering how I feel like I played. I didn’t hole anything and I felt I wasn’t 100 percent off the tee,” he said.
“Mentally I was very good. I kept going today when it was tough. The scoring surprised me a little. I know it is a little better know but I was going up 16 and looked over and saw Rose was 15, Li was 16 and the rest were 12. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t play the par-fives well I wasn’t comfortable off the tee and didn’t hole many putts and I still got a top 15 so it’s another few Race to Dubai points closer towards my target.
“I am certainly going to have to sort out my driving over the next three days if I am going to do well around there. I have done alright there in the past. I think I have finished around 10th the last three years (11, T25, T12) so it’s alright. Obviously I love Dubai. I am going next week and I am not sure what I make of the place. But I will go and play as well as I can.
“I’m also enjoying being back in Europe. It’s good. Especially a week like this. This is one of the best weeks of the year in my opinion. The hotel is unreal and everyone is around. I have a few friends here tis week. It’s nice.”
Paul Dunne, who had lead on day one with a 64, slipped to final round 70 for a share of 18th place at 10-under par.
“I just kept hitting it to 20 feet, didn’t make any putts all day,” he said. “It was kind of disappointing, one under was pretty poor for how I played. But it is what it is. It is even worse when you see Shane there one shot ahead of me when I finished.
“The scores are out there, it is even more annoying because you play well then it makes a big difference. Anyway.
“I do feel it has gone a little better at the end of the week than at the start, which is a positive. I will work through next week and hopefully it can continue like that and head into Dubai, a course I really like.”
Justin Rose is the new World No. 1 in overcoming a three-stroke deficit to capture a second straight Turkish Airlines Open with a play-off victory in Belek.
Rose, 38 posted a final round four-under par 68 to win by a shot with an 17-under par winning total on the Regnum Caya course.
Rose first went to World No. 1 in losing a play-off in last August’s PGA Tour BMW Championship but remained atop of the rankings for just a fortnight.
The Englishman’s victory along the shores of the Mediterranean is the first time in Rose’s now 19 pro career wins around the globe he’s successfully defended a title.
China’s Haotong Li, who had led by three shots heading to the last day, struggled in signing for a 71 to be second on 16-under par
