WALTON-ON-THE-HILL, England –– Padraig Harrington is no quitter. He proved that Monday at Walton Heath Golf Club in U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying.
The Irishman nearly walked off the golf course early in the opening round of the 36-hole qualifier because of a recurring shoulder injury. He played on and came within a whisker of an automatic spot for Chambers Bay.
Harrington returned scores of 72-68 to finish at 4 under, one shot from qualifying. The three-time major winner bogeyed the last to miss out on one of the 11 automatic qualifying spots. He then hung around for two hours for a playoff for the second alternate spot for Chambers Bay.