Spanish papers focus on Garcia's shortfall

Spanish media reaction to Harrington's win : A number of Spanish newspapers focused more on Sergio García losing the US PGA …

Spanish media reaction to Harrington's win: A number of Spanish newspapers focused more on Sergio García losing the US PGA Championship than Pádraig Harrington winning it.

The Spaniard was leading coming down the stretch before finding a water hazard at the 16th and, like the 2007 British Open at Carnoustie, surrendered to the challenge of Harrington.

El Mundoshowed little sympathy for the Spaniard and under the headline "Harrington embitters Garcia again" Mario Diaz wrote that the Irishman, through pressure and accuracy, stood up to and defeated his playing partner for the day.

"A self-confessed follower of Real Madrid, he (García) is destined to suffer like Atletico. This is how it has always been, and this is what happened in Oakland Hills when everything was going his way until he shot a ball into the water on the 16th and couldn't get over a bunker on the 18th. The man from Castellón played like never before only to end losing as always.  And if there is something García has learned it is mental strength, something Harrington has had in spades all year."

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Daily sports newspaper Marcaran the story under the headline: "Harrington takes a major from Sergio Garcia again" and said that the Irishman had once again "frustrated" the Spaniard by "displaying his brilliance" with a birdie on the 17th and a great putt for par on the 18th.

Harrington's victory enters him in "golf's hall of fame in capital letters" the paper said.

El Paiswrote that Harrington had "snatched another major from García".
 
It said: "On the last day of play a fascinating duel ensued between 'The Kid' and America's Ben Curtis before it became even more exciting when the Irishman Pádraig Harrington made it a three-way fight for the title."

El Paisnoted that Harrington's impressive final score made him the first European to win the US PGA Championship since Tommy Armour in 1930.

Luke Cassidy

Luke Cassidy

Luke Cassidy is Digital Production Editor of The Irish Times