Padraig Harrington wins Portugal Masters for 1st Euro Tour win in 8 years

Harrington made a 5-footer for the win. (Getty Images)

Padraig Harrington is a winner again on the European Tour for the first time in eight years.

He pulled off the victory at the Portugal Masters on Sunday, closing with a 6-under 65 at Victoria Clube de Golfe to beat Andy Sullivan by a shot at 23-under 261.

The three-time major winner went bogey-free in the final round, taking to heart the style of play needed to come from behind for a win on a golf course yielding a lot of birdies and eagles — one that many players in the field thought might be susceptible to giving up the first recognized 59 (or better) in European Tour history.

“I tried to be really aggressive,” Harrington said. “The golf course suited me and I just tried to go after every pin I could and make birdies. I have a pretty good short game that was on form this week. No matter where I hit it, I felt like I could get it up and down.”

For the Irishman, this is his first European Tour win since the 2008 PGA Championship, his second major in a row that year, which is co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour.

“I haven’t won yet this year, so I know the year is nearly done, it’s always important to get a win every year, a winning year,” Harrington said.

“It’s a big win. Portugal Masters is a big tournament. I’ve been coming here for ten years so I’ve always liked it down here. I’ve always liked coming down to Portugal.”

Harrington ended his PGA Tour winless skid last year, taking the Honda Classic in a Monday playoff over Daniel Berger. That win ended a streak on the PGA Tour that also dated back to his Wanamaker win at Oakland Hills in 2008.

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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