Sublime Harrington wins USPGA 

Irishman Padraig Harrington clinched his second consecutive major title with a two-shot victory in the U.S. PGA Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club on Monday.

One month after successfully defending his British Open crown at Royal Birkdale, Harrington held off the challenge of playing partner Sergio Garcia with a four-under-par 66 at Oakland Hills Country Club.

The Irishman edged ahead by sinking an eight-foot birdie putt at the par-three 17th before ramming in a 15-footer to save par at the last for a three-under total of 277.

Harrington became the first European to win the tournament in 78 years, following in the footsteps of Scottish-born Tommy Armour who triumphed at Fresh Meadows in 1930.

He also became the fourth player after Walter Hagen (1924), Nick Price (1994) and Tiger Woods (2000, 2006) to win the British Open and PGA Championship back-to-back.

Spaniard Garcia, bidding for his first major title, bogeyed two of the last three holes for a 68 and a tie for second with American Ben Curtis (71). 

Colombia's Camilo Villegas closed with a 68 to share fourth place at one over with Swede Henrik Stenson (72). 

Curtis, surprise winner of the 2003 British Open, held a one-shot lead when the storm-delayed third round was completed earlier in the day and briefly forged three ahead by rolling in a seven-foot birdie putt at the opening hole. 

However, it did not take long for the fast-starting Garcia to cut the deficit to one on the tough, undulating layout. 

Widely regarded as the best player in the modern game without a major victory, the Spaniard also birdied the first by sinking a four-footer before eagling the second after hitting a superb second shot to six feet. 

Biggest title

Garcia, who won the biggest title of his career at the Players Championship in May, conjured another birdie at the 294-yard, par-four sixth. 

Although he pulled his tee shot there into the right rough, his recovery from a tangly lie ended up five feet from the pin and he rammed in the putt to join Curtis at three under. 

Curtis, in the group behind Garcia and Harrington, also birdied the hole after two-putting from the fringe short of the green to edge one stroke clear. 

The American, who had seemed unflappable in the wet, blustery conditions, surrendered the lead with consecutive bogeys from the eighth. 

After missing the fairway and failing to reach the eighth green in two, he missed a par putt from five feet and also faltered at the ninth after finding the left bunker off the tee. 

Like Curtis, Garcia had been in trouble off the tee at the ninth but got up and down from the back left rough to save par. 

Harrington charged into a share of the lead at three under with birdies at the 10th, 12th and par-three 13th, where he struck a five-iron to 12 feet and knocked in the putt. 

However, the Irishman bogeyed the 14th after finding thick rough behind the green with his approach to slip back into a tie for second with Curtis before the American birdied 14. 

Garcia dropped his first shot of the round at the par-four 16th where he hit his approach into water and did well to sink a tricky bogey putt from four feet. 

Curtis bogeyed the 15th, after driving into the left rough, to drop back into a three-way tie for the lead with Harrington and Garcia before the Irishman broke clear at the 17th. 

After he coolly rolled in his par putt at the last, an energised Harrington celebrated by removing his cap and twice pumping his right fist. 

Meanwhile New Zealand golfer Michael Campbell was happy with his tie for 42nd at 13 over finish.

Fellow Kiwi Mark Brown tied for 24th in his first major at nine over.