‘OVER CONFIDENCE’ COSTS HARRINGTON AT SENIOR PGA
Pádraig Harrington was left to rue an untidy finish which ultimately cost him his chance of winning the Senior PGA Championship at Congressional in the US (Photo: Courtesy DP World Tour)
TOUR NEWS
As Angel Cabrera made it two Senior major titles in a week at the Senior PGA Championship, Pádraig Harrington was left to rue a poor and untimely finish as ‘over confidence’ got in the way of securing another notable major win.
Harrington became erratic in his play coming down the stretch, which ultimately cost him his chance of winning. The three-time Major winner made a double bogey in 15, while Cabrera birdied and Harrington also bogeyed the 18th, which meant the door was opened for Cabrera.
“You know, I've had a lifelong problem with getting confident and cocky and I did on the 15th tee box it was such a simple tee shot. 5-wood, a little draw down there, and I just totally didn't get into it enough and then panicked at the last moment and hit a big hook,” reflected Harrington afterwards.
“It's always plagued me my whole life since I've been a kid. Just get over-confident. I'd be much better off if I got to the 15th hole and there was water everywhere. Probably would've done a better job. It follows me around. I can get overconfident.
“Yeah, was all too easy at that stage. Not too easy, but it was an easy shot. I was laying up with the bunker. There is no trouble down there. It's yeah, all going very well. Obviously when you mess up like that everything is tough after that.
Cabrera closed with a final round 69 for a winning eight under total 280 at Congressional Country Club. With Harrington three over for his last four holes, he had to settle for a tie for second as his final round 68 left him alongside Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn on seven under.
Up until the final few holes Harrington had been free-wheeling and was seven under for his round with birdies at one, two, six and eight on the front nine before further birdies were picked up at 11, 12 and 14.
“I hit some beautiful iron shots all week. Hit a great 9-iron into 16. Hit a great 9-iron into 17. Hit a great wedge into 18,” added Harrington.
“Yeah, you know, I hit a good first putt on 18. Didn't see that break at all. You know, obviously I missed a putt back up the hill.
Harrington went on to elaborate on those over-confident feelings that have cost him in the past.
“I lost a tournament when I was 18 years of age - what was it called - the Irish Youth and I did the exact same thing. Two ahead with three to play and relaxed. I'm much better off with nerves and tension.
“I was just relaxed on 15 and then I did it on 18 tee, 72nd hole at Carnoustie. Couldn't see myself hitting a bad shot - that was the exact same. Stood there so confident, and at the last moment I had a little bit of doubt.
“If you start off with doubt, when you feel doubt over the ball it doesn't feel so bad. If you start off confident then you feel doubt, it's like a blowup. So, yeah, so I was just too confident. It happens,” said Harrington.
Cabrera won the rain-delayed Regions Tradition last Monday in Alabama and quickly followed up with another major triumph following Harrington’s late slip.
“I was like, ‘this is my turn’,” said the Argentinian through a translator.
“I feel very emotional,” said Cabrera, the 2007 US Open and 2009 Masters champion. “Maybe you cannot see, but I’m very, very emotional inside. Especially after all the things that I went through.”
“I thought that I was going to fail, especially after being sitting without touching a club for a while. I’ve been working very, very hard and I feel that all the hard work pays off and this is what I’m having right now.”
The burly Argentine returned to golf after serving a 30-month jail sentence for domestic abuse and related offences before being released in 2023.