In a superb return to form Ireland’s Padraig Harrington is now just one round away from ending a six-year PGA Tour winless drought.
The triple Major winning Irishman heads into the final round of the HP Bryon Nelson Championship at eight under par and just two shots from the lead shared by fellow Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen and American Brendan Todd.
Oosthuizen produced the lowest round all week of a six under par 64 on the par 70 layout.
In fact, the South African bogey two of his opening four holes but then play then next 14 holes in eight under par capped by three birdies in succession from the fifth hole and then a similar hat-trick of birdies from the 14th.
Padraig Harrington just 18 holes away from ending six-year Stateside winless drought . (Photo – www.pgatour.com)
Three players are tied in third place including Canadian Mike Weir of Canada who became the first left-handed born player since New Zealand’s Bob Charles to win a Major in capturing the 2003 Masters and on the 60th year anniversary of Charles’s success at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.
Harrington has not tasted victory on the PGA Tour since denying Spain’s Sergio Garcia to capture the 2008 PGA Championship at Oakland.
Of course, Harrington has won on the Asian Tour and also tasted victory in the elite four-man Grand Slam of Golf but this is the first occasion the now lowly ranked 209th world ranked Dubliner has been close to triumph on either the main PGA Tour or European Tour.
Harrington went into the third round of the $US 6.9m event after earlier rounds of a pair of 68s and was off to a poor start when he bogeyed the fourth hole.
However the Irishman put that behind him to birdie the sixth and seventh hole and play his inward nine in three under par that included birdies at 10, 13 and 16.
“My game hasn’t been as good as I happened this year,” he said.
“I’m addressing it, and I feel I’m addressing it the right way. I see some positive signs. A lot has to do with my putting. It hasn’t been so strong and that feeds back into the game.
“I’m seeing some good stuff. You know, it doesn’t happen‑‑ it’s not an overnight thing. These things don’t switch straightaway. It’s a gradual thing, and I’m seeing the signs of it turning around nicely, and I don’t want to get too bullish.
“I’ve got to stay patient and let it happen but certainly I’m happy that things are turning around and the good news for me is I know I can do it when I’m there, so it’s just a question of allowing it to happen. r with birdies at 10, 13 and 16.”
It was only recently we were writing about the fact Harrington has missed not qualifying for the Masters in 14 straight years while he also was not exempt into last week’s Players Championship.
If Harrington were to win in the Lone Star state he would become automatically exempt for the 2015 Masters while a number of other doors would open to the affable Irishman.
