PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Padraig Harrington went from being one of the world's top-ranked players to playing so poorly he lost his PGA Tour card in less than a decade.
Three victories in majors in a two-year span lifted Harrington to No. 3 in the world rankings in 2008, just behind Tiger Woods. But his ensuing seven-year slide dropped him to 297th in the world and he resorted to using sponsors exemptions to play anywhere he could.
It finally paid off Monday when Harrington regained his PGA Tour card and his stature with a victory over 21-year-old Daniel Berger on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff at the Honda Classic.
Harrington, a 43-year-old from Dublin, Ireland, said he never wavered from the belief that given the chance, he could win again.
Harrington's caddie, Ronan Flood, reminded him of that Monday morning when Harrington was four shots behind the leader with nine holes to play.
"He said, 'Look, would you have taken this on Thursday?' And I said, 'Yes, that's what you want,' " Harrington said. "You want to be in contention with nine holes to go, because anything can happen coming down the stretch. And it did."
Harrington's victory came at a rain-delayed event played on a rain-soaked PGA National course when all the contenders, most notably playing partners Ian Poulter and Patrick Reed, became unglued at one point or another.
Harrington wasn't exempt from errant shots.
He made four consecutive birdies on the back nine to take the lead with two holes to play.
He gave it back with a 5-iron into the water for double bogey on the par-3 17th. He made a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th to force a playoff with Berger, who shot a 6-under-par 64 to take the lead in the clubhouse for more than an hour.
But given a shot at redemption at No. 17, the second playoff hole, Harrington hit a 5-iron to 3 feet to win when Berger hit into the water and made double bogey.
Harrington celebrated the 10th anniversary of his first PGA Tour victory -- at the 2005 Honda Classic -- with his first PGA victory since he won the 2008 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills for back-to-back majors.
The victory was Harrington's sixth on the PGA Tour and his 23rd worldwide, vaulting him back to No. 82 in the world rankings. Now he's eligible for the Masters, The Players Championship and at least two World Golf Championships.
None of that mattered to him as he sat next to the trophy.
"It's not about what it means to my career or what it means going forward," he said. "You don't win that often. When you win, make sure you enjoy it."
Sports on 03/03/2015