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Padraig Harrington wins Honda for first PGA Tour win since 2008

Irish eyes are smiling in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Padraig Harrington is a winner again on the PGA Tour.

Harrington, who was playing this week on a sponsor's invitation, defeated Daniel Berger on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff to win his first PGA Tour title since the 2008 PGA Championship.

The three-time major winner was tied with Patrick Reed for control of the golf tournament on the 17th tee in regulation after Ian Poulter had put five balls in water hazards in the final round. On the par-4 14th, Poulter's tee shot went right into a water hazard. Then, after a drop, his third shot caromed off a tree into the same hazard. He eventually made triple-bogey 7 to lose the lead.

On the 15th hole, Reed's tee shot landed in the water at the par 3 and led to a double bogey.

Alone in the lead on the tee at the par-3 penultimate hole, Harrington's attempted cut shot to the water-guarded end of The Bear Trap landed in the water hazard, leading to a double bogey that cost him the lead to the 21-year-old Berger, who was already in the clubhouse at 6-under 274.

Harrington needed birdie to force a playoff, but wasn't the only player in the final group that could catch Berger, who shot 6-under 64 to come back from nine shots down to start the final round. Poulter made birdie at No. 17, needing an eagle at the par-5 last to get in a potential playoff. Reed was locked out because of a bogey.

Poulter laid up with his second shot from 290 yards and was unable to sink the wedge shot for an eagle 3, leaving Harrington the only man in between Berger and a Masters berth. The Irishman sank a 15-footer for birdie to force the playoff.

Both players made par on the first playoff hole, replaying the 18th. Harrington took a long time on the tee of the par-3 17th, the second playoff hole, but his second crack at the hole was masterful. His ball landed 3 feet from the hole. With the pressure on, Berger put his tee shot in the water hazard. It took two putts, but Harrrington sealed his win with a par.

Apparently it pays to be No. 297 in the Official World Golf Ranking. A week ago, James Hahn was 297th when he won the Northern Trust Open in a playoff. This week? Harrington was slotted in the same place in golf's pecking order.

Now Harrington is back in the Masters and in the top 85 in the world ranking.


Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.