With a magnificent drive of 354 yards down the 18th, Padraig Harrington effectively assured Ireland of a 3-0 victory over Zimbabwe, in the £1 million Alfred Dunhill Cup here on the Old Course yesterday. It also gave the Irish trio the best cumulative figures - six under par - for the opening series.
As it happened, the win was a repeat of the 1993 clean sweep over the same line-up of Nick Price, Mark McNulty and Tony Johnstone. Which made it especially sweet for the lone survivor and current skipper, Paul McGinley, who beat McNulty at the fourth tie hole on that occasion.
In typically crisp, autumnal weather, the outstanding performance of the day came from the gifted Paraguayan, Carlos Franco, who returned a seven-under-par 65. But it didn't stop the Scots from avenging their shock defeat of six years ago by the South Americans, though Colin Montgomerie wasn't here to enjoy it. After his early-morning withdrawal with a dental problem, Montgomerie was replaced by Sam Torrance.
Meanwhile, those still harbouring bitterness over the Ryder Cup, delivered an acceptable golfing protest in the form of silent treatment for America's Tom Lehman, during the early holes of his match with New Zealand's Michael Campbell. Jet-lag caused Lehman to miss the opening ceremony and when he eventually arrived for his 10.50am match, the crowd denied him the customary applause on the first tee.
Nor was there any applause for the American at the second and third, but early frostiness gradually gave way to normal spectator appreciation. Was Lehman aware of anything negative? "No, not a thing," he replied.
Ireland and Sweden were the only countries to win 3-0. And there were no shock results, though some of the more fancied participants had to endure anxious moments before squeezing through.
In this context, the Spaniards had a particularly tight squeeze. After Sergio Garcia had appeared to set up a predictable victory over France by shooting a sparkling 67 against Jean Francois Remesy, Jose-Maria Olazabal had one of his more costly lapses with the driver - at the treacherous 17th.
Two strokes clear of Ryder Cup colleague Jean Van de Velde on the 17th tee, Olazabal proceeded to carve his drive out of bounds to run up a triple-bogey seven. But he responded with a birdie on the 18th to tie the match at 74-74 and then proceeded to birdie the first for victory in a sudden-death playoff. "That drive was a silly mistake but I made a good comeback," he said with a thin smile.
Then there was the closing eagle two from Craig Parry which gave Australia a spectacular 2-1 victory over Japan. With Parry's point against Tsuyoshi Yoneyama crucial for their survival, he proceeded to hole a 58-yard pitch on the 18th. "It was like Nick Faldo's in the 1990 Open here," said the delighted Australian afterwards.
England also struggled. Indeed it took a solid, level-par round from Ryder Cup skipper Mark James to ease them past India. His opponent, Jyoti Randhawa, looked set to force a play-off before dropping a stroke at the relentless 17th in a back nine of 39.
Afternoon was giving way to evening and a fresh breeze was helping Harrington as he stood on the 18th tee, level with Nick Price. Though victory over Zimbabwe was already secure, there was considerable personal pride at stake, especially since the Dubliner had been four strokes clear after the 10th.
He had just double-bogeyed the 17th, where Price sank a six-footer from left of the hole to make a solid par. Harrington's problems started when he drove the ball as far right as was possible without going out of bounds. After landing in a depression on a cement path, his four-iron recovery went only 60 yards.
Further problems ensued with a third over the green from where he took two more to reach the putting surface. In fact he had to sink a six-footer for his six.
Down the 354-yard 18th, however, there was rich compensation when a powerful drive finished pin-high on the left, just off the putting surface. With the pin 17 yards in from that side and 15 yards from the front, Harrington proceeded to hit a superbly-judged approach putt to within 18 inches of the hole to set up a winning birdie. "I had never driven that green, so I gave it the full treatment," he said, clearly delighted with his success.
Though his putting didn't match his splendid standards of The Country Club, he broke clear of Price with a run of four threes from the seventh - birdie, par, birdie, birdie. As things turned out, it proved to be an invaluable cushion.
Added to his Ryder Cup singles defeat of Mark O'Meara, Harrington had just completed a notable, matchplay double over the winners of five "major" titles. Which must have pleased him. "Yes, I have to admit that I am acquiring far more self-belief," said this notoriously self-critical player.
McGinley set the mood for a fine team effort with a 70-75 win over Johnstone, having taken a commanding, four-stroke lead after birdies at the first, where he sank a 15-footer and long fourth, which he reached with a five wood. "After taking control early on, I played solidly, just like I've been doing in recent weeks," he said afterwards.
Then came Clarke, whose sparkling run of three birdies in the opening three holes, was commensurate with his status as the 22nd ranked player in the world. They were the product of putts of 10 feet, 12 feet and three feet, and having forced McNulty's back to the wall, there was never a suggestion he would ease the pressure.
"I felt very comfortable with everything I did," he said afterwards. "If we maintain this form, we could be in for a very good week." The point was well made, given that the Irish were the only side to be under par in all three matches.
