Harrington hits 18-year low and exits world Top 300
Pádraig Harrington. Picture: David Lloyd / www.golffile.ie
On a day when Paul Casey was "over the moon" and Andy Sullivan won a trip into space, Pádraig Harrington is about to hit a new low and slip out of the Top 300 in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in more than 18 years.
The 43-year old closed with a three under 67 to share 28th place with the likes of Shane Lowry (69) in the KLM Open. It was the Dubliner's best finish since July but his slide in the rankings goes on.
As for the tournament, new Dad Casey lived up to a prediction made in a form guide that Harrington has read assiduously for years — golfers who are about to turn 30 or 40, or who have just fathered a male child, are more likely to win.
And so it proved as Casey earned his 13th European Tour win in his first tournament since fiancée, Pollyanna, gave birth to the couple’s son on September 1.
As for Harrington, he putted well enough to make six birdies in another adventurous round. But after starting the week ranked 299th in the world, he is projected to fall to around 314th on Monday, which will be his worst ranking since he arrived in Madrid for the 1996 Peugeot Open de España as the world No 484.
He went on to win his maiden European Tour title at the Club de Campo that week to jump to 180th. But he has been in free fall since winning his third major six years ago.
He ended 2013 ranked 131st having been 59th at the end of 2012, 85th at the end of 2011, 23rd at the end of 2010, fifth at the end of 2009 and a career high No 3 following his win in the 2008 US PGA.
Lowry had an eagle and three birdies in a one under 69 to join Harrington on five under par with Simon Thornton's 67 boosting him to tied 52nd on one under.
Darren Clarke was level for the day with three holes to play but racked up a uadruple bogey nine at the seventh and a bogey at the eighth before finishing with a birdie for a 74 and a share of 65th on four over.
Paul Casey following his win in the KLM Open at Kennemer Golf & Country Club on Sunday 14th September 2014.
Picture: Thos Caffrey / www.golffile.ie
Damien McGrane shot 73 to finish 69th on five over as Casey overturned a four shot deficit on Romain Wattel to win the KLM Open by a single stroke.
Casey’s first son Lex was born on September 1, and the new arrival clearly inspired him to a 13th European Tour title as he carded a final round of 66 for a 14 under par winning total, with Simon Dyson runner up on 13 under par.
Dyson was bidding for a fourth KLM Open title, and a third at Kennemer Golf and Country Club, but after a course record 62 on Saturday, followed by five birdies and just one bogey in the final round, it was Casey who succeeded Dutchman Joost Luiten as champion.
“I’m a bit emotional to be honest," said Casey. "Although it was very care free for three and a half days, because if I played well or poorly I was going to go home to see my baby, and then I got to the last three holes and I thought I really want this, not that he is old enough to understand.
"This tournament has been going for more than 90 years and looking at the names on the trophy, you have Seve, Langer, Payne Stewart. It’s got some great names so to add my name to that is a great honour.
“Just having my first child was a great distraction. I had no expectations coming into the week and I did very little pratice, although I’ve played good golf.
"Even flying in Wednesday morning to spend as much time at home as possible, so I was apprehensive as to how I was going to play.
"I couldn’t have dreamed it would turn out this way. It’s not that I wasn’t trying my hardest on the course, but you just don’t know how it will turn out.
"I’m absolutely over the moon.”
He wasn’t the only one – compatriot Sullivan aced the 15th in a round of 67 that left him third on 12 under, earning a trip into space courtesy of XCOR Space Expeditions.
“It was such a rollercoaster out there today and this week so to top it off by going to space is great,” said the former Walker Cup star. “I was on the comeback after a few bad holes and the caddie pulled out a nine iron and said try to cut it in there, luckily it came off and it went in.
“I’m not sure if I’ll go, I’ll check with the missus. I’m not great with heights or flying! I might have to pluck up some courage. I don’t think spaceman is a new nickname for me.
Andy Sullivan celebrates winning a trip into space. Picture: Thos Caffrey / www.golffile.ie
“My daughter will think I’m the best dad in the world – a professional golfer and an astronaut, she’s got the best dad in the world! I’m going to have to pluck up some serious courage, but it is a once in a lifetime experience, so I’m going to have to do it.
“My caddie just shout to me, ‘we’re going to space’. I was in hysterics. It’s just an unreal experience. I didn’t play great through the round and then I hit a shot like that. I had two twos on there, but not been close to it. So I wasn’t really even thinking about it.
“It’s been such a rollercoaster of a day. I just strapped myself in and went for the ride. Overall it’s been a great week and I’ve really enjoyed myself here at the KLM Open.”
KLM Open 2014, Final (par 70)
266 P Casey (Eng) 68 70 62 66,
267 S Dyson (Eng) 70 66 66 65,
268 A Sullivan (Eng) 67 68 66 67,
269 E Pepperell (Eng) 69 68 66 66,
270 J Luiten (Ned) 65 70 67 68, J Carlsson (Swe) 70 67 70 63, P Larrazábal (Esp) 68 62 75 65, R Wattel (Fra) 67 65 64 74,
271 O Fisher (Eng) 70 66 70 65, R Ramsay (Sco) 69 65 65 72,
272 R Derksen (Ned) 71 67 68 66, P Waring (Eng) 69 71 65 67, B Koepka (USA) 69 66 70 67, J Kruger (RSA) 73 63 70 66, M Ilonen (Fin) 69 66 70 67, E Molinari (Ita) 66 66 71 69, R Jacquelin (Fra) 71 68 68 65, T Hatton (Eng) 68 67 72 65,
273 R Bland (Eng) 70 70 67 66, G Stal (Fra) 66 71 65 71, R Rock (Eng) 73 67 65 68,
274 C Wood (Eng) 69 67 70 68, T Aiken (RSA) 67 68 71 68, T Pieters (Bel) 70 66 67 71, P Uihlein (USA) 66 68 67 73, M Kieffer (Ger) 67 68 68 71, E Grillo (Arg) 72 66 67 69,
275 D Im (USA) 67 70 70 68, P Harrington (Irl) 70 68 70 67, J Morrison (Eng) 73 67 65 70, T Fleetwood (Eng) 70 67 71 67, R Karlsson (Swe) 69 69 68 69, S Lowry (Irl) 70 69 67 69, J Hansen (Den) 72 66 67 70, R Saxton (Ned) 71 67 70 67,
276 C Doak (Sco) 69 70 68 69, M Korhonen (Fin) 71 69 67 69, M Carlsson (Swe) 68 71 70 67, T Lewis (Eng) 70 69 70 67, G Fdez-Castaño (Esp) 71 69 66 70,
277 G Bourdy (Fra) 73 67 69 68, A Kaleka (Fra) 72 67 72 66, W Ormsby (Aus) 70 69 67 71, M Warren (Sco) 68 68 71 70, D Howell (Eng) 68 69 73 67, A Pavan (Ita) 66 70 67 74, A Gee (Eng) 69 70 69 69, M Foster (Eng) 70 67 73 67, N Colsaerts (Bel) 72 68 66 71,
278 J Heath (Eng) 69 67 71 71, T Olesen (Den) 69 71 69 69,
279 C Lee (Sco) 69 69 68 73, S Thornton (Irl) 68 69 75 67, M Jiménez (Esp) 71 69 66 73,
280 J Lima (Por) 70 67 74 69, N Elvira (Esp) 71 67 69 73, S Kjeldsen (Den) 70 70 71 69, J Hahn (USA) 71 66 70 73,
281 S Hansen (Den) 68 66 75 72, J Doherty (Sco) 69 71 68 73, J Parry (Eng) 71 69 69 72, J Krietemeijer (am) (Ned) 71 69 70 71,
282 G Bhullar (Ind) 70 69 75 68,
283 I Van Weerelt (Ned) 69 70 73 71,
284 D Clarke (Nir) 73 67 70 74, B An (Kor) 72 68 72 72, J Quesne (Fra) 70 69 71 74, W Besseling (Ned) 68 72 71 73,
285 D McGrane (Irl) 71 68 73 73, R Kakko (Fin) 69 69 71 76,
286 N Fasth (Swe) 70 70 70 76,
287 M Crespi (Ita) 71 69 70 77, D Huizing (Ned) 72 68 76 71, J Singh (Ind) 72 68 72 75,
288 E Goya (Arg) 67 73 76 72,
289 J McLeary (Sco) 67 72 74 76.
