Cabrera defeats Harrington in a playoff at the PGA Grand Slam

2007-10-17

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TUCKER'S TOWN, BERMUDA (TICKER) -- Angel Cabrera started off poorly, but came through at the end.

Cabrera fired a 2-under-par 68 for the second straight day before winning a three-hole playoff against Padraig Harrington at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf on Wednesday.

This tournament was set up for the four major winners but was without one - Tiger Woods. The 2007 PGA Championship winner chose to skip the event and was replaced by Jim Furyk, the 2003 U.S. Open champion.

The 38-year-old Cabrera, who won the U.S. Open at the Oakmont in June, rebounded from a horrendous beginning when he had a double-bogey on one followed by a bogey on two.

"The only thing I can say is that it was complicated after the first hole," Cabrera said. "I was able to come back and that was a great thing."

Cabrera eventually settled down, carding four birdies and two eagles - including one on the par-5 18 to draw even with Harrington.

Cabrera and Harrington each had a par on the first two holes of the playoff before Cabrera's birdie on the third gave him the victory and a purse of $600,000 dollars.

"I know it's an exhibition, but I always like to win every time I play," Cabrera said. "I wouldn't have liked to be second here."

Harrington, who entered the second round up a stroke on Cabrera, had six birdies in regulation, but also added two bogies and a double-bogey on nine to see his lead disappear.

"I was really struggling with my swing," Harrington said. "I worked hard to keep myself in there. I wasn't happy to be honest, I wasn't swinging, chipping or putting well. I had to really work hard to keep myself in position to stay out in front. Obviously it's a lot easier course when you're chasing rather than leading out there."

It was the second playoff for the Irishman this season, who defeated Sergio Garcia in a four-hole playoff at the British Open in July.

Furyk, who finished third, had the best round of the day. The 37-year-old, who has 13 career victories, carded six birdies to overcome a double-bogey at the par-5 11 to finish at 67.

"I went out there and actually played 17 very good holes," Furyk said. "I made one bad swing on 11. I fought back pretty good, birdied four holes on the way in. But 11 definitely took my chances away."

Masters champion Zach Johnson, who was tied with Furyk after the first round, again had a chance to do the same, but his bogey on 18 caused him to finish in the rear.

"I felt good," Johnson said. "I actually thought I made the putt for birdie on 17. It was really good, I just hit it too hard. I got overly aggressive on 18."