Golf: Padraig is Lord of the Manor.
Byline: By MICHAEL SCULLYPADRAIG Harrington blew away the Tiger Woods and Luke Donalds of this world in the JP McManus Pro-Am Invitational tournament at Adare Manor yesterday with a course record 63 to claim a A240,000 jackpot - and then insisted he was nowhere near his best.
The Dubliner, who recently claimed the Barclays Classic title in the US, had a brilliant day at the Limerick venue with six birdies and two eagles - and only one bogey - on a course he played for the first time on Monday.
He won the individual best pro prize of A100,000, as well as A100,000 for best overall team professional - and another A40,000 for being the best contributor yesterday.
But as he collected his trophies in front of a massive gallery on the 18th green, Padraig admitted: "I need to do a lot of work between now and the Open. You can't go in on a wing and a prayer that week, so there will be a little bit more work to be done yet.
"Some of it today was the fact that it was my day - I got the breaks and I just went with them. I scored my best - you don't make a couple of eagles too often so it was one of those rounds where you keep going with it."
And he declared: "Without a doubt Limerick needs a Tour event, a four-day event, with the way this turned out.
"It's a big occasion, the crowds were fantastic the way they turned out, and I think Adare Manor is an ideal venue for an event like this or a Tour event. It really is a beautiful place and the crowds really enjoyed it."
Trevor Immelman's course record of 64 only lasted 24 hours. "All I was thinking about was the course record and eight under par," said Harrington.
"Once the team was going well, and I was going well, I wanted to get to eight under. Once I got there, I was thinking about nine because it's better to hold the course record on your own than share it. That kept me going."
A whopping 49,000 spectators turned out over the two days of the event which is held every five years.
"I finished on the 13th hole and it was totally ringed when I got down there," added a delighted Harrington, who had a six-shot victory over the rest of the field.
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GLASS ACT: Harrington cleaned up
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| Title Annotation: | Sport |
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| Publication: | The Mirror (London, England) |
| Date: | Jul 6, 2005 |
| Words: | 414 |
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