Crazy finish at Carnoustie
I’m still catching my breath. Wow, where to begin?
I’ll get right to the drama. Unknown Argentinian Andres Romero made a dramatic charge into the lead, by rolling in 10 birdies up to the 16th hole. The happy-go-lucky Romero then hit a bad tee shot on 17 and tried to hit a 2-iron from the rough. Bad move. The ball lined into the burn and ricocheted OB to the right. Romero doubled the hole, bogeyed 18 to finish at -6. Romero had no pars on the back 9.
Then Paddy Harrington vaulted into the lead, with 4 birdies and an amazing eagle on 14 to go 9-under. Paddy parred the next 3 holes and stood on 18 as the sole leader. Sergio was 1 back at -8. Paddy then flared a wounded drive to the right–borrowing the shot out of Phil Mickelson’s bag–that skated across the bridge, 3/4 of the way, but then veered into the burn. Paddy dropped and then chunked his 5-iron back into the burn. After a nice pitch, Paddy holed a 5-footer for double bogey to fall back to -7.
Sergio hit a 2-iron off the tee on 18, leaving him over 250 yards from the green. His approach went into the bunker. He needed an up and down to win his first major. Bunker shot was good, but left him about 12 feet out. Good putt but ball doesn’t break back and catches only the lip. Sergio looks dejected.
4-hole playoff.
1st hole: Paddy birdies (-1), Sergio bogeys (+1).
16th hole: Paddy misses green. Sergio hits pin with 3-iron, but no hole in one. Paddy up and down for par (-1). Sergio 2 putts for par (+1).
17th hole: Paddy stuffs his approach shot to 8 feet. Sergio’s approach, about 20 feet. Both 2 putt.
18th hole: Paddy hits hybrid off tee. Lays up. Sergio blasts drive, gets lucky lie in rough; hits 6-iron to 25 feet. Paddy pulls 100 yard wedge to left green, outside of Sergio’s putt. Paddy lags his putt, but ball skates by 3 feet. Sergio’s putt for birdie has too much speed and hits edge of the hole, but skates by 5 feet. Sergio saves par. Paddy hits his putt in to win. Congrats, Paddy!
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