Pluck of the Irish - Harrington holds nerve to beat Sergio in dramatic shoot-out at Carnoustie

The 36-year-old sparked memorable scenes after becoming the first golfer from the Republic of Ireland to win one of the four majors, following an amazing fourhole play-off against Sergio Garcia, who saw his three-shot lead evaporate on a day of high drama.

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But it nearly went horribly wrong at the infamous 18th at Carnoustie. Needing a par four to win during regulation play, the Irishman ran up a double bogey after putting two balls into the Barry Burn.

Dubliner Harrington said: "If I had lost I don't know what I would have thought golf again. It would have been very hard to take.' However, he was given a let-off when the Spaniard, needing a par four of his own to win, ran up a bogey five.

Harrington went on to win the play-off by one shot and said: "This is unbelievable for me when you think when I started out as a professional I only thought about a journeyman's career.

"There were a lot of people who had more faith in me than I had in myself. It is wonderful to sit here after proving them right."

Harrington became the first European to win a major since Paul Lawrie triumphed at the same Scottish venue in 1999 — and couldn't resist a little dig at Nick Faldo, who had speculated earlier in the week on whether the drought was because the top players were all too 'chummy'.

"You can be a nice guy and win, and it is a very good thing to aspire to," said Harrington. No one enjoyed his win more than long-time coach Bob Torrance.

"Next to Sam (his son) winning the Ryder Cup this is the greatest moment I've enjoyed in golf," the Scot said. "Padraig is the hardest working guy I've ever worked with and I've always wanted to coach an Open champion. No one deserves it more than him."

A despairing Garcia was left to rue the bogey on the 18th hole which cost him his first major title.

"I still don't know how that putt missed," he said. "It's tough because I don't feel like I did anything wrong, I didn't miss a shot in the playoff, I hit unbelievable putts that just did not want to go in.

"That's the way it goes. I guess it was just not meant to be.

"Every time I get in this position I never have any room for error. I should write a book on how not to miss a shot and not win a play-off."