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Padraig Harrington narrowly misses out on US Open qualification – but hope remains for another Irish ace
PADRAIG Harrington fell just one shot short of a playoff place for US Open qualification.
Harrington arrived straight from the Principality Charity Classic to Kinsale Golf Club in Columbus, Ohio, for a US Open qualifier.
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Heartbreak for Padraig Harrington in the US Open qualifiers
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Graeme McDowell won his sole major at the US Open in 2010
Credit: PA
He came tied 38th in the Principality Charity Classic on six under just a week after finishing
With only six available qualifying places up for grabs for the 66 entrants, Harrington's qualification chances seemed dead and buried after his two-over par 74 in his first 18 holes.
But the Dublin native managed to turn it around with a sensational first nine of his second round.
Harrington produced back to back birdies on the third and fourth followed by three in a row on the seventh, eighth and ninth.
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The three-time major winner found himself in a play-off position following a birdie on the eleventh.
However, a bogie on the 17th hole would prove costly as he slipped out of the qualification race.
A birdie on the last hole wasn't enough for the 53-year-old as he missed out on the top six by just one shot.
The Irish golfer has not qualified for the US Open since 2023, where he finished tied 27th.
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He qualified through his US Senior Open victory the year before, not having to play in a qualifier.
His all-time best finish in the competition was back in 2012 at at Olympic Club where he finished tied fourth.
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There was a playoff for the final qualification spot with five golfers finishing on five under in tied sixth.
Chase Johnson, Eric Cole, Max Homa and Rickie Fowler lost out to Cameron Young in the five for one playoff as Young made a birdie on the first playoff hole.
Erik van Rooyen, (13 under) Bud Cauley, (7 under) Lanto Griffin, (7 under) Justin Lower (7 under) and Harrison Ott (6 under) joined playoff winner Young in US Open qualification.
Seamus Power also failed to qualify for the US Open, as the Waterford golfer withdrew after a two-over par opening round of 72 at Lambton Country Club in Canada.
Tom McKibbin, Seán Quinlivan and amateur Patrick Keeling also failed to qualify for the prestigious tournament across some of the other nine qualifiers.
A weather delay caused the competition to be delayed until today with McDowell ten shots into his second round.
He is just three shots short of the top four qualification spots with eight holes to go.
