Irishman Padraig Harrington survived a pair of double bogeys to hold off Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee and win the Hoag Classic on Sunday at Newport Beach (Calif.) Country Club.
Harrington started the day with a one-shot edge over Jaidee, and both players turned in rounds of 2-under 69, though they got there in wildly different ways.
For Harrington, who finished the three-round tournament at 14-under 199, it was his seventh win on the PGA Tour Champions.
"Yeah, I never make it easy, don't do it simple," Harrington said. "I think one of my best traits in golf is when my back's to the wall, I'm pretty good at taking things on."
After a birdie at No. 3, Harrington suffered a double bogey at the par-3 fourth hole. Birdies fell at Nos. 7, 12 and 15 to help him claw back, but he suffered an enormous setback at the difficult par-4 16th.
Harrington's drive went far left into a native area, leaving him to punch out to the fairway. He compounded the mistake when his third shot missed the green and settled in a bunker, leading to his second double bogey.
But Harrington responded with birdies at Nos. 17 and 18 to overtake Jaidee, who could only par the two holes. Harrington made a slippery downhill 15-footer at the par-3 17th before his birdie for the win at the par-5 18th rolled around the cup and in.
"Look, I knew I could finish birdie-eagle if I had to," Harrington said. "I was very focused, just take it on. I was a little unlucky. I hit a nice tee shot on 17 and where I finished up, we thought it was a fraction to the right.
"And then obviously I hit a bad tee shot on 18, but the second shot worked out really well where it was. I was never not getting up and down from there. When you're presented with an opportunity, you've got to take it."
Jaidee had his second straight round of 69 by pairing four birdies with two bogeys.
Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain shot a 68 and placed third at 12 under. Canadian Stephen Ames (67) was fourth at 11 under, and Jerry Kelly (67) and South Korea's K.J. Choi (68) tied for fifth at 10 under.
More must-reads:
Kurt Kitayama narrowly missed out on posting a 59 during the third round of the 3M Open on Sunday, settling for a tie of the TPC Twin Cities course record with a 60. Kitayama was 11 under through 16 holes, needing a birdie on each of the final two holes to card a 59 in Blaine, Minn. However, he sent his tee shot on the par-3 17th hole into a green-side bunker that led to a par. Kitayama rebounded with a birdie on the par-5 18th to post a 60, tying the course record set by Adam Svensson during the first round. Beginning his third round well out of contention, Kitayama charged up the leaderboard with seven birdies to make the turn in 28. He added four more birdies to reach 11 under for his round through 16 holes. Kitayama held the lead when he walked off the course, but ideal scoring conditions saw most of the field carving up TPC Twin Cities. Amateur Michael La Sasso and veteran Tayler Montgomery also moved into contention with 8 under 63s before 36-hole leader Thorbjorn Olesen had even teed off on Saturday. La Sasso and Montgomery both made the cut on the number. "We had a blast," La Sasso said. "It's nice being first out, nice and calm, greens are fresh. Definitely a little faster today. Yeah, I had a good time. "It was a lot of smiling so it was good."
Being the backup quarterback isn't necessarily the most exciting role for anyone, but for a team like the Miami Dolphins, where starter Tua Tagovailoa has suffered four concussions since entering the NFL in 2020, it could be vital. As of now, a clear battle for that spot has formed between rookie seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers and veteran former first-round selection Zach Wilson as they go head-to-head. Of course, training camp is where these kinds of questions can be solved, and so far, it appears that Ewers has done a good job in putting his best foot forward. On Friday, David Furones of the Sun Sentinel gave a very positive update on the young quarterback, stating, "Dolphins rookie QB Quinn Ewers had a strong third practice of training camp. Made several impressive, big-time throws." The update sparked conversations among many fans, both supporting Ewers and a serious showing that there's interest in seeing who comes out on top. "Show ‘em, Quinn," said one comment. "He just does a lot of things (anticipatory throws, timing throws, MOTF accuracy, etc.) that fit this system much better than what Wilson does. I think with refinement and development we could have a backup in Miami that can operate the offense efficiently…finally," said another. "Love to hear it!" a third added. A fourth stated, "I'd be surprised if he's not the backup.." "I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Quinn Ewers has the physical tools to stick at the next level. It’s just a matter of shaping the rest," a fifth continued. "That’s QB2 potential QB1 in the future Glad we drafted Ewers," said another. Another big test for both Ewers and Wilson will be during the Dolphins' three preseason games, as the coaching staff will get a much better look at how these two perform during live matchups. Luckily for both, though, being the backup is all they're truly fighting for, as Kyle Crabbs of A to Z Sports predicts that each will make the final 53-man roster, with cuts needing to be made by Aug. 27.
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh clubbed his 40th home run of the season on Saturday night against the Los Angeles Angels, not only extending his major league lead but also making him the first player in baseball to reach the 40-home run mark this season. It also helped him make some history. With his 40th home run, Raleigh became both the first catcher and the first switch-hitter in baseball history to reach the 40 home run mark before the end of July. Here is a look at his 40th home run. He is already in the process of having one of the best seasons ever for a Mariners player, and also one of the best seasons ever for a catcher, for any team. Especially when you add in his defense, where he is one of the best defensive catchers in the league. His only serious competition for the American League MVP Award remains New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge. But with Judge sidelined for some time now due to an elbow injury, it might open the door for Raleigh to put himself in the lead for that award.
In a game that went down to the last pitch, Pete Alonso handed the New York Mets their sixth straight win. New York was desperately trying to hold a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth. The San Francisco Giants had a runner in scoring position, but were facing two outs. It was in that moment that Alonso made the play of the day. Pinch-hitter Patrick Bailey swung away, rocketing a ball towards first base. But as quick as Bailey swung away, Alonso made the catch to end the game. He snatched the ball in the air, making the final out and refusing to even allow it to touch the field. No further play was needed and the Mets took the game and the series in San Francisco. Prior to the ninth inning drama and Alonso's game-saving play, the Mets scored both of their runs in the sixth. Third baseman Mark Vientos dove both runs home with a clutch two-run double. This came after New York trailed 1-0 after the Giants scored their only run in the fourth. On the mound, David Peterson earned the win despite allowing 11 base runners, bringing his personal record to 7-4. He gave up just the one run and struck out four batters, but did surrender eight hits and three walks. Relievers Reed Garrett, Ryne Stanek and closer Edwin Diaz pitched an inning each, combining for three strikeouts. That runner left on second base when Alonso caught the last out was San Francisco's lone hit against New York's bullpen. Diaz can thank Alonso for his 22nd save. New York (61-44) currently holds a narrow half-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East. Needing every win they can get, the Mets will now go for the road sweep on Sunday night, with the first pitch from Oracle Park scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!