European TourBrian KeoghTurkish Airlines Open, Shane Lowry, Padraig Harrington

Harrington denied by magnificent Rose in Turkish Airlines Open

European TourBrian KeoghTurkish Airlines Open, Shane Lowry, Padraig Harrington
Harrington denied by magnificent Rose in Turkish Airlines Open
Pádraig Harrington chips in on the sixth

Pádraig Harrington chips in on the sixth

Pádraig Harrington's trademark "mad eyes" were on full bore but he had to settle for fourth as a relentless Justin Rose birdied three of his last four holes to claim the Turkish Airlines Open in sensational fashion at the Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort.

As overnight leaders Shane Lowry and Kiradech Aphibarnrat failed to ignite, the Dubliner dramatically eagled the par-five 15th to snatch a share of the lead but had to bow to Rose, who won for the second week running when he birdied the 15th, 16th and 18th to card a closing 65 for a one-shot win over Dylan Frittelli (64) and Nicolas Colsaerts (66) on 17-under-par.

Harrington needed to hole his 207-yard approach at the 18th to force a playoff but he came up 15 feet below the hole and was forced to settle for a par and a four-under 67, finishing two behind Rose on 15-under after a vintage performance. 

Lowry was in the mix until late on the back nine but denied on the greens, he paid for an over-ambitious approach from rough at the par-five 15th, finding water short to make bogey en route to a one-over 72, eventually finishing tied for eighth, five shots behind Rose.

As for Harrington, the 46-year-old Dubliner showed he is still a force to be reckoned with when he gets a sniff of victory.

He birdied the first to get to within one of Lowry and Aphibarnrat but failed to get up and down from just of the second green to slip two behind again.

The Thai then birdied the fifth to lead by two on 15-under but it wasn't long before the fireworks started.

 

Harrington chipped in for a birdie two at the sixth to get to 13-under but he wasn't the only one showing short game magic.

South African Dylan Fritelli chipped in for the third time in four holes at the short eighth for his fifth birdie in a row to lead by one on 15-under par.

 

He then bogeyed the 10th as Harrington birdied the ninth to grab a share of the lead with the South African, Aphibarnrat and Rose, who went out in two-under 32 to get to 14-under.

Lowry had no luck with the blade all day, carding eight pars and a bogey four at the fourth to share fifth place with defending champion Thorbjorn Olesen and Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts, just a shot off the pace, with nine holes to go.

With seven players covered by just one shot, the back nine promised to be a thriller. And so it proved.

Harrington looked set for a bogey at best at the 10th when he attempted to cut a hybrid through a gap in the pine trees and over a lake. But after looking mystified to see his approach come up short in the water, he holed out from 60 yards for an unlikely par to remain in a share of the lead.

Lowry had hit a glorious high draw to 12 feet but he failed to convert and remained one behind, still searching for his first birdie of the day.

Frittelli then birdied the par-five 12th to take the lead and was joined by Colsaerts, who birdied the 11th to join him on 15-under.

Minutes later there were three tied for the lead with last week's WGC HSBC Champions winner Rose picking up a shot at the 12th, leaving them one ahead of the Belgian.

Harrington three-putted the 11th for bogey and found himself in a four-way tie for fourth with Olesen, Lowry and Aphibarnrat.

A birdie at the 12th was a must for both Irishmen and they duly obliged, Harrington hitting a 277-yard fairway wood pin high before two-putting for birdie as Lowry deftly chipped dead from just off the green for his lone birdie of a disappointing final round.

Harrington and Lowry were just one behind Frittelli and Rose and soon joined on 14-under by Eddie Pepperell following his eagle three at the 15th.

Aphibarnrat then birdied the 14th to join Harrington, Lowry, Pepperell and Colsaerts on 14-under, just a shot behind Rose and two behind Frittelli after the South African birdied the par-five 15th to get to 16-under.

When Rose two-putted from just off the back of the 15th to join Frittelli in the lead, the Irish challengers needed to make birdies coming home.

Harrington hit a perfect drive at the 15th and had just 167 yards for his approach from the middle of the fairway with Lowry in the left rough.

After agonising over whether or not to go for it, Lowry eventually came up short in the water and made bogey after an indifferent fourth from the drop zone came up 18 feet short.

But Harrington used the contours to fire his second to 18 feet and inevitably, he rolled in the putt for eagle to join Frittelli in the lead on 16-under.

Almost simultaneously, Colsaerts birdied the 16th to join them but Rose made a birdie of his own to lead by one on 17-under and set up a dramatic finish. 

Colsaerts birdied the 17th to join Rose and in the lead and when Harrington missed a slippery birdie chance from 15 feet at the 16th, Frittelli birdied the last for a 64 to match them and set the clubhouse target at 17-under.

Rose and Colsaerts needed birdies to overhaul the South African and both hit stunning approaches inside 15 feet.

The Englishman made his to shoot 65 and get to 18 under and with Colsaerts missing, Harrington needed to chip in on the 17th and then birdie the last to tie.

Sadly for him, his chip from just right of the 17th came up inches short and while there was no miracle at the last, he will take heart from a memorable performance st the end of an injury hit season.

Paul Dunne shot a one-over 72 to finish tied 23rd on eight-under.