ENDICOTT, N.Y. – Mike Weir had reason to celebrate on Sunday. Competing in the Dicks Sporting Goods Open, the 52-year old made a pair of birdies down the stretch to finish T2 for his best result on the PGA TOUR Champions this season.
Padraig Harrington won the DICK’S Sporting Goods Open for his second PGA Tour Champions victory of the year.
Harrington closed with a 5-under 67 at En-Joie Golf Club for a three-stroke victory over Mike Weir and Thongchai Jaidee.
“Unusual for me, no drama, no real drama,” Harrington said. “Normally, I create something coming home. … Got the right breaks at the right time, holed the right putts and played nicely.”
A stroke behind Weir entering the day, Harrington birdied Nos. 2, 3, 9, 11 and 12 in a bogey-free round to finish at 16-under 200.
The 50-year-old Irishman won the U.S. Senior Open in late June at Saucon Valley. He also has four runner-up finishes and a tie for third in 11 starts this year.
Weir shot a 71, and Thongchai had a 66.
“It’s fun. You’re just thinking birdie, you’re just thinking middle of the fairway, get me in the fairway because my iron game is good and the putter’s finally starting to heat up for the first time this year,” said Weir, following Saturday’s second round. “I was kind of champing at the bit for more holes.”
The Canadian scrambled out the gates on Sunday, bogeying two of his opening four holes but regained his rhythm with a birdie on No. 8 to move back to even par on the day.
After another dropped shot on No.10, the lefty responded with birdies on No. 12 and No. 16 – with the help of a tree, no less – to establish himself in a tie for 2nd place.
Jim Furyk (68) and Vijay Singh (69) were 12 under, and 64-year-old Bernhard Langer (68) followed at 10 under with Darren Clarke (69), Ken Tanigawa (68) and Gene Sauers (70).