Padraig Harrington gifted American John Daly his first title since the 1995 Open today and finished runner-up for the sixth time this season on the European Tour. The Dubliner was level with Daly going to the final tee in the fourth round of the BMW International in Munich but he struck his second shot into the water on the right side of the green.
Somehow he managed to save par but Daly took advantage of Harrington's slip-up after a thundering drive down the fairway saw him just off the green in two. He then chipped beautifully to two feet from the hole and made no mistake with his putt to equal the European tour record at 27 under par, set by Canadian Jerry Anderson at the Swiss Open 17 years ago. However, Daly's name in the record books may not stand because placing the ball was allowed on the saturated fairways in the third round at Munich.
Daly has been through a lot since his Open victory six years ago, coming through numerous trips to rehab for his alcohol addiction and also a third broken marriage but over the past 12 months since he has not touched a drop of alcohol, he has finally looked capable of living up to the potential he showed as a young up-and-coming golfer. Daly finished third in the Scottish Open on his last trip to Europe in July and has now done even better to triumph over the overnight leader in what turned out to be a tight and fascinating matchplay exercise between the pair over the back nine.
"I feel great," he said. "It's been a long six years. I think 1999 was my worst year ever and it was a difficult point - I had to go forward or something else. But I don't have anything else to do. That's the problem. Golf's been my whole life since I was four." Daly also admitted that his life has changed for the better since giving up alcohol. "I've got rid of all the bad stuff and I feel a totally different person. It's given me energy I didn't have before."
Although Harrington was deeply disappointed to have finished in second spot, he was magnanimous in defeat. "I can't be disappointed because I drove the ball the best I have ever driven it. At the start of the week I would have taken 26 under and I probably would have taken it at the start of the day. But it does not help your confidence when you go out leading, play well and lose. There you go. But it's nice to see John back in the winner's enclosure. Off the tee he hit it superbly. I knew it was going to go all the way and he really never missed a drive all day," said the Dubliner.
Equally as interesting as the outcome of this tournament was the race for automatic qualification for Sam Torrance's Ryder Cup team. Philip Price, lying in 10th spot in the standings going into this final counting event on Thursday, missed the cut and was forced to sweat it out for two days before his place in the line-up was assured. Frenchman Thomas Levet and Scot Dean Robertson had to win the event outright to knock Price out of the top-ten and although they made an excellent effort to do so, finishing third and joint fourth respectively, Price's place in Torrance's team is now safe.
Sam Torrance is expected to name his two wild card invites later this evening with Sergio Garcia and Jesper Parnevik expected to get the nod over Jose Maria Olazabal.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
