BOCA RATON, Fla. — From the moment Padraig Harrington’s eagle attempt from a bunker at the first hole nicked the flag and stopped for a tap-in birdie, it was apparent Sunday was going to be the Irishman’s day.
Subsequent birdies at the second, fourth, fifth sixth and seventh holes – yes, he was 6 under through seven holes – changed the apparent to obvious: Harrington was going to win the TimberTech Championship at Broken Sound Club.
It was just a question of, by how much?
Harrington fired a 7-under 64 on the Old Course to beat hometown hero Bernhard Langer (70) and Charlie Wi (64) by seven shots at 16-under 197. Langer was trying to win the TimberTech Championship for the second consecutive year and a record fourth time.
Photos: 2023 TimberTech Championship
“It doesn’t get much better,” Harrington said of his start. “I hit some close shots, and I also made some good putts. I also got a couple of nice breaks, which is the sort of things that happens when you win a golf tournament. I was actually thinking about shooting a 59 when I hit it close at 8.”
Harrington, a three-time major champion who will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame next year, made it interesting – for a few moments – when his drive at No. 9 went into the water. Langer birdied the hole and Harrington had to make a 6-foot bogey putt. Harrington’s lead went from four shots to two.
“That 6-footer was important to winning the tournament,” Harrington said. “A two-shot lead is fine.”
That was as close as Langer would get. Langer bogeyed No. 11, Harrington birdied No. 14 and that was the tournament.
It’s not easy to beat Langer in his hometown event. In 16 starts at the TimberTech, he has three wins, four seconds and two thirds and has earned $1.932 million with an average score of 68.21.
“I was four-under on the front nine and still lost distance to the leader,” Langer said. “And then I made a horrible bogey on 11. And then a really bad shot on 17 (where he made double bogey), so the finish was disastrous.
“Padraig played flawless other than the bad tee shot on 9. It seemed like he birdied every hole. He played solid the rest of the day.”
Hall of Famer Ernie Els shot 70 and tied for fourth place with Shane Bertsch (70). Marco Dawson (67), who had to be treated by paramedics after the round, tied for sixth with Ken Duke (69) and David Toms (72).
Harrington used his length – he was routinely outdriving Langer and most other players by 40 to 50 yards – to outmuscle the field, playing the three par-5s in a combined eight-under. There were times when Harrington’s 3-wood went farther than his playing partners’ drivers.
It was the third time Harrington has won in Palm Beach County, having captured the Honda Classic in 2005 and 2015. It also was his sixth win on the PGA Tour Champions in his 33rd start.
“I guess Irishmen play well in the wind,” Harrington said. “It’s really good to get back in the winner’s circle. Obviously, this is what the Champions Tour is all about, giving us a second chance. You want to get yourself in contention to see if you can handle the pressure and the nerves. This is why I’m still doing it at 52 for days like this.”
There was drama throughout the final round. Wi started the week 54th, just squeezing into the second playoff event, but his closing 64 vaulted him into 35th place. That earns him full-exempt status on next year’s PGA Tour Champions and a spot in next week’s Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix.
Rob Labritz secured the 36th and final spot when he made a clutch bogey putt at the 18th hole, celebrating with a series of fist pumps and a hug with Duke.
But it was Harrington who took home the $350,000 first prize, a heavy trophy and a rare claim of beating Langer at home.