February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
He was cruising along at four under par in Thursday’?s first round but hit a wall of sorts at 15. He bogeyed three of the four finishing holes to finish his round 1-under at 71.
Harrington played bogey-free golf on Friday, shooting 66, and he suffered only two blemishes on Saturday en route to 67. By this time, however, defending champ Thongchai Jaidee had separated himself from the field. Jaidee went on to win the tournament, but Harrington hit some rough patches on Sunday with four bogeys and a double bogey. His 74 left him 10 under for the event at 278, 11 strokes behind Jaidee.
Paul McGinley was also on the scene and closed fast to take a share of fourth place at 276 (68-70-70-68). His opening round was a crazy quilt of eagles, birdies, bogeys and double bogeys. Three birdies on the last four holes Sunday helped him ascend the leaderboard.
Peter Lawrie tied for 28th place at 283 (71-70-70-72), with Gary Murphy among a trio in 52nd place at 286 (71-66-71-78). Murphy, who had committed only seven bogeys over the first three rounds, stumbled big time on Sunday, picking up six bogeys and one triple-bogey. Damien McGrane (72-73) and Stephen Browne (75-70) both missed the cut by one stroke.
PGA TOUR
Darren Clarke had plenty of time on his hands in Los Angeles last week. After shooting a 5-under-par 66 on Thursday (which featured a hole-in-one on the sixth hole), Clarke wasn’t back on course until Sunday, due to heavy rain that left the Riviera Country Club better suited to the likes of Jacques Cousteau.
Clarke carded 68 in his second round, and his total score of 134 left him one stroke behind Chad Campbell and Adam Scott, who found themselves in a playoff on Monday after tournament officials decided to leave bad enough alone after 36 holes. So, Clarke headed down to La Costa for this week’s Match Play Championship having tied for third place at Riviera.
Graeme McDowell spared himself the suspense of whether he would be contending for a championship by missing the cut. His 147 (74-73) was five strokes adrift of the cut line. McDowell will also be at La Costa by virtue of his world ranking. And his first-round opponent on Wednesday? One Darren Clarke.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
With only conditional status on this circuit, Des Smyth has to make every start count. He certainly made the ACE Group Classic worth his while, finishing tied for eighth place at Twin Eagles in Naples, Fla., earning $44,000. He birdied three of the first four holes on Sunday, got an eagle on the par-5 13th and birdied 18 to finish with an 8-under 208 (69-72-67). Mark James? 203, led the field.
CHALLENGE TOUR
Michael Hoey shared 25th place in the Panama Masters at Summit Golf Resort in Panama City. He finished 3-over at 287 (72-70-76-69). He harmed his chances with a triple-bogey 7 and a double-bogey 5 in both the first and third rounds.
Colm Moriarty earned a piece of 38th place at 291 (74-68-75-74). Hoey earned $1,112, while Moriarty?s cut came to $725. Kevin Haefner won with a low score of 276.