PADRAIG Harrington had to make do with a 99 instead of a 59 as his 26th Irish Open drew to a close at Mount Juliet.
Harrington let loose around the famed Kilkenny course this morning, delivering a birdie blitz on his front nine.
And he admitted that, after sinking birdies on his first five holes and again at the eighth to turn in 30 to get to within four of the lead, it wasn't winning the tournament that was on his mind, rather it was making history.
READ MORE: Shane Lowry admits he could have worn Offaly jersey down 18 if minors had won All-Ireland
"I was thinking how hard it is to shoot 59," laughed Harrington.
"I was six under for the round after eight and I had to do that at least for the next eight - that was going through my head. Winning? No.
"If I can get up there, it means the pins are decent and guys in the afternoon can shoot good scores.
"It was more about shooting 59."
Unfortunately such thoughts were banished from his head on the very next hole as, with a birdie or even eagle thoughts on his mind, the Dubliner double bogeyed.
Bunkered off the tee, his second shot left him stuck behind a tree and disaster ensued, but he was content with a closing 69 to finish on seven under par.
There was also the added bonus of an ice-cream delivered at the back of the 14th green by his wife Caroline and enjoyed on the 15th tee.
"It was a particularly nice 99," grinned Harrington. "Even though there’s a shortage of flakes, there was a nice flake in it as well.
"I’m not sure if it was a Cadbury’s flake It was very skinny!"
Harrington, who won the US Senior Open a week earlier, admitted: "I was sitting there last night thinking, 'How am I not 10 under par?'
"It’s not today I didn’t win the tournament, it was the first three rounds.
"I can’t believe how hard I worked to shoot three under par today and in the first three rounds I should have shot three or four unders - I should have scored better the first three days.
"I give up nothing when I’m out here. It’s the same as it was 20 years ago - I’m well capable of competing and winning. I need to be in that position more."
Poland's Adrian Meronk picked up his first DP World Tour victory with a sizzling finish at the Thomastown venue, hitting two birdies and an eagle in his last four holes to win by three shots from Ryan Fox of New Zealand.
Shane Lowry was Ireland's best finisher on -12 under after a final round 67 for tied ninth, while Harrington and Seamus Power both finished five shots behind the Offaly man on -7 under after a 69 and 68 respectively.
Dubliner Niall Kearney was the only other home grown player to make the weekend cut and he was in a tie for 58th after a closing 70 for -4 under par in total.
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