Padraig Harrington picked up the 15th European Tour win of his career on Sunday, but what are the three biggest takeaways from the action at the Portugal Masters?
It was a week for a lot of the European Tour’s old guard at the Victoria Clube de Golfe in Vilamoura, and as such it was somewhat fitting that the week finished with Padraig Harrington closed out the win at the Portugal Masters.
While Harrington rolled back the years with an outstanding display of skill and mettle down the stretch, fellow tour veterans such as Paul Lawrie and the semi-retired Anders Hansen were also on hand battling for places at the top.
It wasn’t just the experienced pros leaving their mark though, as one of the brightest young stars on the European Tour gave Harrington a run for his money right through to the finish.
Andy Sullivan’s Ryder Cup debut may not have gone quite as well as he’d have hoped, but as the defending champion in this event the Englishman played stunning golf, ultimately only coming up one shot short.
It wasn’t all good news on the day, as while there was joy and healthy finishes for many towards the top of the leaderboard, as the final regular European Tour event of the season, there was also plenty of anguish for those who’ve lost their cards.
What were the key takeaways from the final day’s play and the event overall though? Let’s take a closer look.
Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Harrington Proves Class Is Permanent
It’s not the common sight it once was to see Padraig Harrington on the prowl around the top of a Sunday leaderboard any more, but what the 45-year-old proved this week is that when he gets a sniff of glory, he still has the tools to seize the initiative.
A bogey-free 65 capped off a stunning week of golf from the Irishman who made a far greater share of putts than he has done for quite some time. Harrington ranked first in the field in putts per round (25) this week, once again showcasing the kind of legendary scrambling that led him to three major championships.
Although Harrington won on the PGA Tour in 2015, he hadn’t won on the European Tour since his co-sanctioned Open Championship and PGA Championship successes in 2008, and hadn’t won a regular event since the 2007 Irish Open. Now, he enters the Race To Dubai in 43rd place and faces a potentially lucrative few weeks in terms of prize money and world ranking points.
Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Sullivan Could Leave His Mark At R2D Finals Series
After a brief spell of summer struggles, Andy Sullivan has shown an impressive return to form at just the right time. The Englishman may not have gotten over the line for back-to-back titles at this event, but a strong finish gives him important confidence and momentum.
After a stuttering 69 on Saturday, Sullivan had left himself with a little more work to do than he would necessarily have wanted, but birdies in four of the first five holes saw him make up ground in a hurry.
Although Sullivan did miss some chances down the stretch, he can’t be too disappointing with a closing 65. In 11th place heading into the Race to Dubai’s Finals Series, Sullivan has a great chance to build on a year that saw him make his Ryder Cup debut, if he can maintain his form.
Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports
Heartbreak For Those Who Lost Their Cards
As we saw on the PGA Tour only a couple of months ago, and was demonstrated again in Portugal this week, away from all of the excitement that tournaments in the season’s final stretch tend to deliver, there are the grim realities of those who are fighting to keep their jobs.
The top 111 players on the Race To Dubai list at the end of play on Sunday could move on safe in the knowledge that they would return with full playing privileges. Below that line, countless players have lost their cards and are now facing up to the prospect of Qualifying School.
Graeme Storm faced heartbreak late in the day as a closing bogey saw him finish his season in the dreaded 112th place, while the likes of Eddie Pepperell, Brett Rumford and Richard Green also featured among notable names who just missed out.
Mandatory Credit: Eric Sucar-USA TODAY Sports
Portugal Masters – Day 4 Leaderboard
1 – Padraig Harrington – 65 (-23)
2 – Andy Sullivan – 65 (-22)
T3 – Mikko Korhonen – 68 (-21)
T3 – Anders Hansen – 68 (-21)
T5 – Robert Rock – 64 (-20)
T5 – David Lipsky – 65 (-20)
T5 – Chris Paisley – 67 (-20)
T5 – Paul Lawrie – 67 (-20)
9 – Nacho Elvira – 66 (-19)
Many of the European Tour’s top stars will return to action on Thursday in Shanghai for the co-sanctioned WGC HSBC Champions.
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