Ireland's hopes of bringing back the World Cup trophy for a second year in succession seem to be in disarray after yesterday's poor last round efforts by Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley in the Sarazen World Open in Atlanta.
Harrington secured a tournament best result of 13th but was far from pleased with his last round of 75 for a three-under-par total. McGinley had no answers following a dismal closing effort of 77, falling to a share of 26th, his worst showing in three appearances in this event.
America's Dudley Hart captured just his second title in eight years as a professional, winning with a 16-under-par total, four shots clear of fellow American Bob Tway. Germany's Bernhard Langer finished in third place on 11-under-par, two shots clear of fellow Europeans Andrew Coltart and Miguel Angel Jimenez who tied in fifth place at nine under.
McGinley, with earlier rounds of 73, 68 and 73, started the last round by parring the first 11 holes before dropping a shot at the 12th and then taking a horror triple bogey seven at the 13th.
"What can I say? I had 16 pars and shot 77," said McGinley. "I am just not producing the bottom line - which is the score. My game is alright and this is not hurting my confidence but the proof of the pudding is to look at my scores which are not good."
McGinley is heading to Los Angeles for a few days before travelling on to Auckland in New Zealand where he will team up with Harrington to defend the World Cup title.
"I have never been to New Zealand before and I am looking forward to defending," he said. "Scotland, with Colin Montgomerie and Andy Coltart, on current form must be hot favourites. Monty is playing so well at present and Andy had a good week in Spain last week and looks like having another good finish this week.
"But then Justin Leonard and Davis Love were hot favourites to win last year and we beat them."
Harrington, too, is remaining in the US for a few days prior to travelling to New Zealand, also later this week.
The Irish players' troubles were as nothing, however, compared to those of Edward Fryatt, the leader at the half-way stage. The American had a disastrous third day but was philosophical about the 83 that sent him somersaulting from two ahead of the field to 15 strokes behind the leader Tway going into the last round.
Fryatt, 27, born in Rochdale and raised in Las Vegas, was 10 under par after two opening 67s. But he launched his third round with three putts from five feet for a double-bogey six and added a seven and a triple-bogey eight at the ninth, where he was four times in the trees, to reach the turn in a numbing 44.
Fryatt admitted: "I was looking for somewhere to hide."
Ireland's Richard Coughlan failed in his attempt to retain his US Tour card when he was not among the top 21 at the Pre-Qualifying School II at the Grenelefe golf and tennis resort in Florida.
