Furyk edges out Harrington

History repeats itself for Irishman

Last updated: 15th October 2008

Jim Furyk PGA Grand Slam of Golf Oct 08

Furyk: picked up trophy and £350,000 winner's cheque

Rarely do I kind of go in just thinking about having fun. I'm usually all business and maybe it's something to learn.

Jim Furyk
Quotes of the week

Final leaderboard

-4 J Furyk (US)
-4 P Harrington (Ire)
Furyk won at first extra hole
+1 R Goosen (SA)
+5 T Immelman (SA)

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Padraig Harrington lost to Jim Furyk in a play-off at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, the second year in a row the Irishman has narrowly missed out at the 36-hole event.

Angel Cabrera eagled the last and then won in extra holes to deny him 12 months ago, and those memories came flooding back for Harrington as Furyk pulled off a similar late charge.

The American birdied the 18th to force a play-off, which he promptly won at the first opportunity with an eagle at the same hole.

"I'm obviously very happy with the outcome," said Furyk.

"It's kind of a wonder that I'm even in the event to start with. So I kind of treated the week like I had nothing to lose.

"Rarely do I kind of go in just thinking about having fun. I'm usually all business and maybe it's something to learn. I kind of kept plugging away and didn't let too many things bother me."

Harrington had been two ahead with seven to play and held a one-shot lead on the final tee, but once more had to settle for the £180,000 runners-up cheque rather than the £350,000 first prize.

Both Furyk and Harrington recorded back-to-back 68s for four-under-par totals at the Mid Ocean Club in Bermuda.

Battle

The Dubliner made the perfect start to his second round with two opening birdies. Furyk responded with two birdies in the next four holes and, with Harrington bogeying the fifth, the former US Open champion led by one.

Harrington hit back, though, by finishing a front nine of 31 with two more birdies and added another on the long 11th, but Furyk birdied the short 13th and Harrington double-bogeyed the 504-yard 15th to fall behind yet again.

The topsy-turvy struggle continued, however, when Harrington made a birdie to Furyk's bogey at the par three 17th.

Retief Goosen finished third at one-over and Masters champion Trevor Immelman fourth - and last - a further four strokes back.

Goosen shared the lead after three birdies in his first four holes, but was out of it from the moment he ran up a seven on the 12th and eventually signed for a 71, while Immelman's opening-day 76 left him too much ground to make up despite a one-under 69 on day two.

The event is designed for the year's four Major winners but lost some of its lustre as US Open champion Tiger Woods was absent due to a knee injury and Harrington won both the Open and USPGA Championship, opening the door for Furyk and Goosen to come in as reserves.