PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON commuted from Johnstown to Rathmichael last evening by helicopter clutching the Irish PGA Championship trophy and with spirits buoyed by his performance on the new PGA National Course at Palmerstown House yesterday.

A difficult few months in the aftermath of his dad's death inevitably affected his golf, but his long game is back on song and Harrington's confidence is high for this week's Seve Trophy at The Wynyard.

Being Pádraig there is a little bit of homework to do - and that's on his putting after taking 38 putts in his one over 73 for a three under par 285 total.

That put him in a three-way playoff with fellow Tour pro Damien McGrane and Lisburn club professional Stephen Hamill, who also closed with a total of 283.

It was an unexpected bonus for McGrane and Hamill. Overnight leader McGrane had started at five under, but scored 74, while Hamill who plays very little competitive golf, got to five under after 10 holes and finished with 71.

They fell away from that lofty perch of five under, but battled hard to minimise the damage to their round.

Harrington's ball striking was on song, and he gave himself plenty of great birdie chances, but capitalised only at three par-5 holes - the sixth, 14th and 16th .

Typical of his form was the 560 yard 16th where he hit the green with drive and 6-iron, leaving himself a six footer for eagle. That slid by, but at five under, surely he could safely par his way in and get ready for the speeches?

Not quite. Pádraig missed a three foot putt on 17, and was distracted by a spectator as he struck his 5-iron approach shot on 18 when par would have given him the title.

The ball ended up in sand, and he failed to get up and down then joined McGrane and Hamill for the buggy ride back to the 18th tee for the play-off.

Par on that hole proved good enough to give Harrington the victory and his third Irish PGA championship.

"I am delighted. I hit the ball great. I couldn't have asked to have hit the ball any better. Obviously there's a bit of work to be done on my putting but this competitive week was just what I needed," he said.

McGrane summed up: "I came here with high expectations. It was a close shave and a case of missed opportunities for me but I think I'll have my day in this Championship some time."

Hamill was the surprise packet. He looked out of it after a double-bogey six on the 5th hole, but then had four birdies in the next five holes to push himself into contention.

The 39-year-old, who was on the Tour from 1989 to 1995, only dropped two more shots, the last one on the 18th in normal play.

"I'm delighted in one way, but a bit disappointed with that bogey in the play-off. Still, I'm not playing much golf, maybe twice a month, so it has been a good week," he said.

Headfort's Brendan McGovern shot 69 to take fourth place on his own on 288, two shots ahead of Tour pro Peter Lawrie.

Best round of the Championship was yesterday's 67 by Robert Giles of Greenore while Simon Thornton, Don McFarlane and Glen Robinson each finished with rounds of 69.

Liam Kelly - Irish Independent / Unison.