IT TOOK SOME convincing for Padraig Harrington to look on the bright side after he finished joint fifth at the Volvo Golf Champions event in Durban, South Africa.
The Dubliner recorded the best round of the day, 67, to climb the leaderboard and finish three shots back from local winner Louis Oodthuizen [-12].
The result, Harrington’s best finish since his fourth place in Durban last year, meant a cheque for over €116,000 and vital ranking points in a Ryder Cup year. The Irishman, however, was forlorn after walking off the 18th green with a feeling that a tournament win had slipped away.
“I missed a lot of short putts through the week,” he said, “so you add it back up and maybe things would have been different. I left a lot of shots out there every day but I struggled a bit out there on the greens. I missed a lot of short putts.
“It’s nice to be close at the end of the day, it’s a good feeling, pushing there… there were a lot of good signs there at the end. It’s a bit like the end of last year; I’m happy with how I’m hitting the ball but distraught at how I’m putting.”
Harrington was pleased that he was still in contention ‘coming down the stretch’ and is hopeful for a return to the winners’ enclosure in 2014.
Oosthuizen held off the challenge of compatriot Branden Grace — both men shot 68s — to win the tournament by one strike and take home a cheque for €507,665. Darren Clarke finished tied 24th after signing off for a poor closing round of 77. Michael Hoey finished 29th with Simon Thornton two places back.
