Harrington in the Burn Twice, Then Champion: Next Shot

Padraig Harrington stood on the last tee at Carnoustie in 2007 with a one-shot lead in The Open. He found the water in front of him not once but twice. About an hour later, he was holding the Claret Jug.

The moment

The 18th at Carnoustie is crossed by a stream called the Barry Burn, the same hole where Jean Van de Velde's chance slipped away in 1999. Harrington admitted he thought of that as his drive went into the burn, and then his next shot found the water too.

What he did next is the whole story. Instead of letting it spiral, he hit a superb pitch to about five feet and holed the putt to save a double-bogey six. "I never let it cross my mind that I'd just thrown away The Open," he said later.

His young son Patrick ran onto the green to greet him, and that seemed to lift his spirits. Sergio Garcia then needed a par to win, made bogey, and the two went to a four-hole playoff.

Harrington birdied the first extra hole while Garcia bogeyed. With a two-shot cushion, he played the rest safely, laying up on the 18th this time and two-putting for a five. He won by one and became the first golfer from the Republic of Ireland to win The Open.

Garcia handled a hard day with class, and he'd go on to win his own major a decade later.

Your first-nine lesson: after the water, play the next shot

Water and other hazards catch every golfer. The ball going in isn't the problem. What usually hurts is the next shot, played angry or rushed.

• Know your options. Water usually means a one-stroke penalty and a new spot to play from. Our hazards guide explains the simple choices.
• Take one breath before the next swing. Harrington's best shot of the day came right after his worst two.
• Pick the safe target. You don't have to make up the shots. Aim away from the water, even if it's a longer way around.
• A six is fine. A double bogey isn't a disaster, it's a number. Our double bogey guide shows why.

The shot that went in is done. The next shot is all that matters.

Related guides and stories

• Golf hazards for beginners
• Double bogey explained for beginners
• More “even the greats” stories
• Start here

Sources

• PGA Tour, "Garcia gets first major, wins the Masters in playoff," Apr 9, 2017
• The Open, "136th Open, Carnoustie 2007"
• The Open, "Caddie Stories: Ronan Flood / Padraig Harrington, Carnoustie 2007"
• The Guardian, "Harrington wins Carnoustie thriller," Jul 22, 2007
• Financial Times, "Harrington holds off Garcia to win the Open," Jul 2007

Facts are taken from the official and news sources above. Players are named with respect; no player photos or video are used on this page.