Padraig Harrington is again carrying Augusta's par three jinx into the Masters
- after a play-off for which Tiger Woods did not show.
Harrington beat Argentina's Eduardo Romero at the third extra hole fully aware
that no winner of the eve-of-tournament par three competition has gone on to
glory in the event proper four days later.
The pair shot four-under-par 23s, as did Woods after a hole-in-one at the
last, but the world number one did not return for the shoot-out four hours later
because of a prior engagement.
He was receiving an award at the American golf writers' annual dinner.
Twelve months ago Harrington tied with David Toms and they shared the honours
because of bad weather.
"It does not bother me," said the Dubliner of the jinx. "I am Irish - I
have all the luck to back me up and overcome it.
"Somebody's got to do it and hopefully I will be the one. This is early in
the week to be making a speech - I would prefer to be doing it on Sunday - but
if you don't win this you can't make two speeches!"
He had chipped in on the final hole to join Woods, then Romero matched the
mark playing with compatriot Angel Cabrera in the final group.
They met in a play-off for the dunhill links championship at St Andrews two
years ago and Harrington won that as well. This time they halved the first in
par, the second in birdies and then Harrington hit his tee shot to two feet on
the 120-yard next.
There were also holes-in-one from defending Masters champion Mike Weir,
American Jay Haas and two of Europe's debutants this week - Welshman Phillip
Price and Swede Fredrik Jacobson.
Asked whether Woods had stayed away because he was scared of winning and
having the jinx himself Harrington said: "I don't know."
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