Padraig Harrington's US Open qualifying charge set to come up short
Padraig Harrington looks set to miss out on US Open qualification by the narrowest of margins despite firing a round 66 in the final round of qualifying in Columbus, Ohio.
With six qualification spots up for grabs at the Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club qualifier in Ohio, Harrington's prospects seemed remote after posting a two-over par 74 in his first 18 holes.
However, the three-time major winner caught fire on the outward nine of his second round, rattling in consecutive birdies on the third and fourth and then three on the trot on the seventh, eighth and ninth.
Another birdie on 11 lifted onto four-under overall and into tied-sixth, putting himself in a playoff spot.
However, the birdies dried up after that before a dropped stroke on 17 essentially ended his chances. He did finish with a closing birdie to finish "the longest day" on four-under, currently tied-11th, with six players already finished their round on five-under or better.
Among that grouping are Erik Van Rooyen, who qualified with ease on 13-under, and a high-powered group of players all on five-under par, including Cameron Young, Max Homa and Rickie Fowler.
Harrington, whose best finish at the US Open was tied-fourth at Olympic Club in 2012, last played the tournament in 2023, placing tied-27th after qualifying through his US Senior Open victory the year before.
2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell is currently battling to qualify, and sits at four-under par after 10 holes, lying in tied-15th at the Emerald Dunes qualifier in Florida.
The top-four in Florida will earn a spot at Oakmont, with McDowell now three strokes adrift.
Seamus Power's US Open's prospects are over, the Waterford golfer withdrawing after a two-over par opening round of 72 at Lambton Country Club in Canada.
Tom McKibbin is also set to miss out on qualification. The LIV golfer is running at two-over par with just one hole remaining of his 36 at Duke University Golf Club in North Carolina.
Roganstown amateur Patrick Keeling, playing in the same qualifier as Harrington, is in tied-49th on six-over par with only a couple of holes remaining.
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