Sept. 12, 2022 Staff Report
Ireland’s Padraig Harrington has clinched his third PGA Tour Champions title of the year by winning the Ascension Charity Classic in St Louis yesterday.
The Dubliner carded seven birdies in a closing round of 3-under 68 for a one-shot victory over Y.E. Yang (66) at Norwood Hill Golf Club.
The 51-year-old recovered from a double bogey at the fourth and a bogey at the 13th to be three clear with three to play.
He then bogeyed the 16th but saved par with a seven-foot putt at 17.
Harrington then closed with another bogey to net the $300,000 top prize – and maintain his lighting hot form this season. He has now brought his earnings for the season to $2,430,702 from just 13 starts.
Harrington also won the U.S. Open Seniors in June.
“I’ve always had the ability to win when I’m coming from behind, charging – when I have to hit the shots,” Harrington said afterward.
“But what I am seeing here is obviously I am in front and I have to manage that and manage my emotions.
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“I thought I did a great job with that at the DICK’S Sporting Goods. It was really simple with no drama.
“Today, I had to try to hit a low shot into the fourth and hit a terrible shot and got it off the top of the clubface and that was a terrible double bogey. And then the bogey on 13 came out of nowhere.
“It was nice to make the birdies to follow up and had some really nice wedge shots. Getting to the clubhouse, maybe I was looking at the victory speech a bit too much.”
Meanwhile, Darren Clarke tied for 24th on five under after a closing 73.
Plot has thickened ?@padraig_h inches closer to No. 1 with seven events left. pic.twitter.com/kkGa3vnPhZ
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) September 12, 2022
