Another Major performance from
Padraig Harrington

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Padraig Harrington broke a 78-year European jinx as he won the 90th United States PGA Championship at Oakland Hills to claim back-to-back majors after a nerve-wracking duel with Sergio Garcia.
Harrington became the first European since Scotland's Tommy Armour in 1930 to win the year's final major and the first man since Tiger Woods in 2006 to record consecutive major wins, the world number one also having won the Claret Jug and Wanamaker Trophy back-to-back.
It also delivered a third major in six attempts for the Irishman - although it was not without a terrific battle against Garcia that stirred memories of their Open play-off at Carnoustie in 2007, as well as with 54-hole leader Ben Curtis.
American Curtis, the 2003 Open champion, appeared to have fought off the European challenge of Garcia, Harrington and Sweden's Henrik Stenson over the opening holes - having gone into the rain-delayed fourth round with a one-shot lead over the Swede and fellow American JB Holmes with a third-round two-under-par 68.
Playing in three-man groups and with the backmarkers starting on the 10th tee to try and get back on schedule after losing half the day's play to rain on Saturday, Curtis was four under after six - only to unravel with three bogeys around the turn at the eighth, 10th and 11th.
Garcia and Harrington, who had completed a third-round 66 in the morning to the Spaniard's 69, were playing together - starting at one over par - with Garcia the more impressive over the opening holes.
But Irishman Harrington really came alive as the back nine got under away - with birdies at the 10th, 12th and 13th, to draw level with Garcia at three under.
Both players made par at the 15th, but the drama intensified at 16 when Garcia found water with his second shot and was forced to settle for a bogey and although Harrington found the bunker with his second shot, he regrouped and the rivals found themselves in a three-way lead with Curtis at two under with two to play.
Harrington birdied the 17th, with Garcia missing his birdie putt and Curtis bogeying the penultimate hole, so the Irishman teed off at 18 in the lead for the first time in the tournament and a par four at the last ensured he was crowned champion.
HOW THEY FINISHED
Par 280 (4 x 70)
277 Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 71 74 66 66
279 Sergio Garcia (Spain) 69 73 69 68, Ben Curtis 73 67 68 71
281 Camilo Villegas (Colombia) 74 72 67 68, Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 71 70 68 72
282 Steve Flesch 73 70 70 69
284 Phil Mickelson 70 73 71 70, Andres Romero (Argentina) 69 78 65 72
285 Alastair Forsyth (Sco) 73 72 70 70, Justin Rose (Britain) 73 67 74 71, Jeev Milkha Singh (India) 68 74 70 73, Charlie Wi (South Korea) 70 70 71 74
286 Ken Duke 69 73 73 71, Aaron Baddeley (Australia) 71 71 71 73
287 Paul Casey (Britain) 72 74 72 69, Stuart Appleby (Australia) 76 70 69 72, Prayad Marksaeng (Thailand) 76 70 68 73, Graeme McDowell (Britain) 74 72 68 73, David Toms 72 69 72 74
288 Brian Gay 70 74 72 72, Robert Karlsson (Sweden) 68 77 71 72, Angel Cabrera (Argentina) 70 72 72 74, Boo Weekley 72 71 79 66
289 Brandt Snedeker 71 71 74 73, Nicholas Thompson 71 72 73 73, Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) 75 71 70 73, Mark Brown (New Zealand) 77 69 74 69, Retief Goosen (South Africa) 72 74 69 74
290 Jim Furyk 71 77 70 72, J.B. Holmes 71 68 70 81
291 Ian Poulter (Britain) 74 71 73 73, Sean O'Hair 69 73 76 73, Chris DiMarco 75 72 72 72, Paul Goydos 74 69 73 75, Ernie Els (South Africa) 71 75 70 75, D.J. Trahan 72 71 76 72, Robert Allenby (Australia) 76 72 72 71, Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 73 74 74 70
292 Rory Sabbatini (South Africa) 72 73 73 74, Steve Elkington (Australia) 71 73 73 75, Steve Stricker 71 75 77 69
293 Mike Weir (Canada) 73 75 71 74, Michael Campbell (New Zealand) 73 71 75 74, Tom Lehman 74 70 75 74, Briny Baird 71 72 73 77, John Senden (Australia) 76 72 72 73, Carl Pettersson (Sweden) 71 74 76 72
294 Michael Allen 70 75 71 78, Billy Mayfair 69 78 75 72, Dean Wilson 73 73 77 71, Charles Howell III 72 76 77 69
295 John Merrick 73 75 70 77, Peter Hanson (Sweden) 71 73 75 76, Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) 77 70 73 75
296 Anthony Kim 70 75 74 77, Tim Clark (South Africa) 76 72 73 75, James Kingston (South Africa) 72 76 74 74
297 Justin Leonard 74 71 72 80, Pat Perez 73 73 79 72
298 Steve Marino 73 74 75 76, John Mallinger 72 75 77 74, Chez Reavie 78 70 78 72
299 Corey Pavin 75 73 73 78, Niclas Fasth (Sweden) 73 73 75 78, Mark Calcavecchia 71 76 76 76, Paul Azinger 72 76 76 75, Kevin Sutherland 76 71 77 75
300 Peter Lonard (Australia) 74 74 74 78, Hiroyuki Fujita (Japan) 77 70 76 77
301 Bubba Watson 75 73 77 76
303 Richard Green (Australia) 71 77 79 76
304 Rocco Mediate 73 74 72 85
306 Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) 76 72 81 77