Golf Talk

It never ceases to amaze me, the drama of golf on Championship Sunday. The old cliche, Hollywood couldn’t come up with a better script, uttered by sports broadcasters around the world doesn’t even begin to describe the edge of the seat suspense of today’s final round at Carnoustie. In the end, the Irishman, Padraig Harrington was left with trophy in hand and family in tow. Here is how it broke down.

After a birdie on the opening hole, things began to unravel for Sergio. After hitting fairway after fairway and green after green in regulation all week long, his ball striking let him down big time in the biggest round of his life. And when he needed the long putts to drop, they lipped out. It was just that kind of round for Sergio. I wouldn’t say that he chocked, but he didn’t play the way he needed to, the way a champion would. His ten-foot putt on 18 to win, that’s just a putt that champions make; not on this day for Sergio unfortunately. So the search continues, I think Sergio will win a major at some point, he’s got the talent, but for now the demons still haunt him.

Call it the luck of the irish, but in any case, Padraig Harrington went from goat to champ in a matter of a couple of hours. After a fantastic front nine and almost flawless back nine, Padraig had a Van De Velde type collapse on 18, hitting it into the water twice, and finishing with an ugly double. But after Sergio missed his putt on 18, he had new life and played just good enough to edge Sergio for the win. Despite 18, Padraig was near perfect, definitely deserved the win.

Lastly, Andres Romero almost had one of the greatest comeback wins in the history of the British Open (much like Paul Lawrie did in 99′). The guy had 10 birdies in 16 holes. But on 17, a bad decision to hit 2-iron out of the rough ultimately doomed him. He hit OB, and ended up with a double. Still, Andres has to feel good about his round, he’s got the experience now of playing major championships and should be a contender again sooner rather than later.

PGA Tour, British Open, Carnoustie, Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Andres Romero