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Furyk claims Grand Slam crown

By James Whittaker

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Another play-off, another last gasp defeat for Padraig Harrington.

It was less déjà vu and more a recurring nightmare for the Open Champion as he tasted defeat in overtime for the second year running at the PGA Grand Slam.

In a finish with more ups and downs than the sloping greens of this tricky Mid Ocean course it was former U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk who ended up on top, courtesy of a magnificent eagle on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off.

The lead had changed hands on several occasions through the back nine and Harrington went into the last hole with a one-shot lead.

But he found the sand and had to scramble par, while Furyk birdied to take it to a play-off with both men on four-under for the tournament.

Both put themselves in position to eagle the first play-off hole. But while Harrington's bobbled around the lip, Furyk's dropped home to give him the championship and the now traditional pink jacket.

After the nerve-jangling finish Furyk said his ability to relax and enjoy the Bermuda atmosphere had helped him handle the pressure.

"I was kind of fortunate just to be in the tournament to be honest with you.

"I didn't win a major championship. You know, good friend of mine, Tiger Woods, unfortunately, hurts his knee; he's out. Paddy wins two major championships, holing putts from everywhere at the PGA, so now we need extra guys. Retief is 1 and I'm No. 2 filling in.

"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 and was going come over here and have the fun."

Harrington, who had a great day until he found the bushes for a double-bogey on the 15th, was left to look back on another missed opportunity at the Grand Slam.

But the Irishman wasn't letting it get him down.

Asked what he would take from this second successive play-off defeat he said: "I take from this that I won two majors in the middle of the summer.

"If I was to get the right break at the right time I'd rather keep it for those events than for this week. It's disappointing but these things happen."

Trevor Immelman, whose nightmare six-over-par round yesterday meant the best chance he had of claiming the pink jacket was putting his green one in the wrong wash cycle, had a better day today, ending on five over.

Initially it had gone from bad to worse for the South African he bogeyed the first two holes.

But he redeemed himself with an eagle on 14, which earned an ovation from the crowd, and two birdies in the last two holes to finish with a respectable one-under for the day - still nine shots behind the leaders.

"There was way I thought I was going to come back and win this thing. I was just trying to go out there and play well and shoot a good score," he said.

Goosen was briefly in the hunt after birdying the first two holes. But a triple bogey on 12 ended his challenge and left Harrington and Furyk to fight it out down the stretch.

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