Ireland's Padraig Harrington failed in his bid to capture the Buick Open in Michigan yesterday, but still received a £76400 boost ahead of the USPGA Championship. The Dubliner shot a final round 69 to finish joint sixth, five shots off the pace.
Overnight leader Kenny Perry made three birdies in a bogey-free final round to win his first tournament since 1995, and the fourth of his career. Perry's 25-under 263 was two strokes ahead of Chris DiMarco and Jim Furyk, both of whom improved their Ryder Cup chances with strong performances.
Three birdies in the first four holes had brought Harrington right into contention. However, three consecutive bogeys from the fifth dashed his hopes, and he needed three back-nine birdies to haul himself back up the leaderboard. Perry picked up 150 Ryder Cup points with the win, but his 254 points are not enough to be in the top 25 in the race to make the American team.
Filed by Tom Grealis
