Round 4 - Padraig Harrington wins again after 8 years

October 24, 2016

Padraig Harrington stayed calm on the final hole to win the Portugal Masters on Sunday for his first European Tour victory in eight years.

Harrington pitched from the rough and holed a 4-foot par putt to close with a 6-under 65. That left him at 23-under 261 for the tournament, enough for a one-shot win over defending champion Andy Sullivan.

Three-time major champion Harrington had taken the lead with his sixth birdie of the day on the 17th, and finished a bogey-free round at the Victoria Clube de Golfe to clinch his 15th European Tour victory. He last won on tour in 2008 at the U.S. PGA Championship.

The Irishman is now tied with Thomas Bjorn at 15th on the all-time list.

''It's always important to get a win every year,'' Harrington said. ''I tried to be really aggressive. The golf course suited me and I just tried to go after every pin I could and make birdies. I have a pretty good short game that was on form this week. No matter where I hit it, I felt like I could get it up and down.''

The 45-year-old Harrington finished two shots in front of Anders Hansen of Denmark and Mikko Korhonen of Finaland, who were tied for third.

Sullivan, who was trying to become the first player to successfully defend the title, birdied four of his first five holes but the Englishman couldn't make a charge in the end. He also shot a 6-under 65.

American David Lipsky (65) tied for fifth place.

Round 3 - Part timer Anders Hansen shares lead

October 23, 2016

A year after announcing his retirement from full-time golf, Anders Hansen took a share of the lead at the Portugal Masters after going 9-under 62 through the third round on Saturday.

The Danish golfer shares a one-stroke lead with Finland's Mikko Korhonen.

Hansen made nine birdies in a flawless round.

The 46-year-old Hansen announced he was retiring at the Oceanico Victoria golf club after playing the Portugal Masters last year. He was able to keep playing on a part-time basis in 2016 because he was among the top 40 on the career money list.

''I didn't really have a strategy, just go out and play, and just try to enjoy it,'' Hansen said. ''I'm very happy where I am and there is no re-think about starting playing golf again. It probably helps a little bit because it doesn't really matter to me either way.''

Padraig Harrington is one stroke behind Hansen and Korhonen.

Defending champion Andy Sullivan, Paul Lawrie, and Chris Paisley are all two shots back.

Round 2 - Andy Sullivan shares lead after a 61

October 22, 2016

Defending champion Andy Sullivan had 10 birdies in a 10-under round of 61 to take a share of the lead after two rounds of the Portugal Masters on Friday.

The English golfer, who won last year's event by a record nine shots, pulled level with overnight leader Marc Warren.

''It only takes a couple of putts to go in and you start seeing it go in all the time,'' Sullivan said. ''Last year, I was aggressive the whole way around, and I've got to be aggressive again.''

The Scottish player Warren had seven birdies and one bogey in a round of 65 to stay with Sullivan on 14-under overall.

Irish veteran Padraig Harrington - who posted 63 on the day - and Swede Jens Fahrbring (64) are one stroke behind.

American David Lipsky is another shot back.

Round 1 - Marc Warren takes opening day lead

October 21, 2016

Marc Warren took a one-shot lead at the Portugal Masters on Thursday but speculation that the European Tour could witness a round of 59 at the rough-free Victoria Clube de Golfe proved premature.

Scotland's Warren began with six straight birdies but a bogey on the seventh stalled his momentum before he went on to make three further gains in an eight under par 63.

"I think I've had six or seven birdies in a row but never at the start of the round," said Warren.

"It's an absolutely perfect start. Everything was going right for me, just the right numbers and landing it close and a couple of tap-ins. It was a great start."

Callum Shinkwin, David Lipsky, Eddie Pepperell, Matthew Baldwin and Mikko Korhonen are all a shot back.

Defending champion Andy Sullivan was at four under alongside in-form Alex Noren.

Scores

 

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