CINKING FEELING; OPEN DRAMA AT TURNBERRY: Watson denied a fairytale Open win in play-off.

Byline: MICHAEL SCULLY

STEWART Cink last night succeeded Padraig Harrington as Open champion - after seeing off the remarkable challenge of Tom Watson in a four-hole play-off at Turnberry.

Cink never lead the tournament in regulation play but Watson missed an eight foot putt on the 18th to win the championship outright in a dramatic finale, resulting in a two-man play-off that was comfortably won by the younger American.

Watson would have become the oldest player to ever win a Major title had he made the putt but the play-off proved to be too much for the five-time Major winner, who turns 60 in eight weeks time and was seeking to emulate his 'Duel in the Sun' triumph over Jack Nicklaus on the same course 32 years ago.

DISAPPIOINTMENT

If Watson had won, it would have been one of the greatest sporting achievements of all time.

He said: "It would have been a hell of a story, wouldn't it? It wasn't to be. And yes, it's a great disappointment. It tears at your gut, as it always has torn at my gut. It's not easy to take."

Ireland played a key part in Cink's victory as he combined a family holiday in the south-west of the country - with his wife Lisa and son Connor - with playing famous Irish links courses Lahinch Old, Ballybunion anD Doonbeg.

Harrington's challenge never got going over the weekend as he sought to make it an historic British Open hat-trick.

A third round 76 was followed by a three over par 73 yesterday, while Ireland's two realistic final day hopefuls Graeme McDowell and Paul McGinley fell away with rounds of 73 and 75 respectively. SEE PAGES 56, 57, 58 & 59

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TOP TWO Winner Stewart Cink and runner-up Tom Watson discuss the Turnberry drama