Garcia didn’t choke, it was Padraig’s class that won it
Sergio Garcia’s biggest critics will suggest the Spaniard buckled under the pressure at the USPGA on Sunday night, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Here we have, quite simply, the toughest golf course in the world, and closing rounds of 67 and 68 in conditions like that does not amount to buckling under pressure.
It’s just unfortunate for Sergio that, not for the first time, he came up against Padraig Harrington, who has nerves of steel in situations like that. Finishing 66, 66 for a three under-par total after four rounds is extremely good going, I can tell you, especially when you’re five over par after two.
Garcia was somewhat unlucky to find the water on 16 but made up for it with a fantastic approach on the next hole. At the same time, Padraig had sunk crucial nerve-jangling putts on both before finally beating off the challenge of Garcia and Ben Curtis a hole further back with a sensational 15-footer on the final hole.
Harrington is something else in tense situations and that is the kind of mentality needed to win Majors.
Padraig (pictured right) is coached by my dad, Bob, and has worked extremely hard on his game. At 36, he has peaked at a nice time and I see no reason why he can’t go on and join the likes of Faldo and the rest on the list of all-time European greats.
He is also primed for a showdown with Tiger Woods once he recovers from injury, and I’m sure he’ll be taking note from his armchair! Harrington’s victory sees him enter the history books as the first European to win the USPGA title since Tommy Armour in 1930 and sees him join Woods (2000 and 2006), Nick Price (1994), and Walter Hagen (1924) as the only players to win two Majors in a season. That’s a terrific achievement.
After so many years without success in this tournament, it turned out to be a good weekend for the European players with Henrik Stenson in the mix, probably unlucky to only finish on two-over in the end, and Justin Rose, who also enjoyed a welcome top 10 finish after previous disappointments.
This battle for places, remember, is crucial for Ryder Cup points and Europe captain Nick Faldo will be satisfied in the knowledge that a number of niggling selection dilemmas would have been resolved at the weekend. If there was ever any doubt, Garcia is a must, whether it be by right or by wildcard, while Rose is also as good as home.
While there’s still three or four weeks to go before the team has to be announced, the big question marks surround his two wildcard picks and I can’t see him looking any further than Ian Poulter and Paul Casey, who have both showed this season they can perform in Majors.