JEEV MILKHA SINGH was counting his blessings after claiming a thrilling, one-stroke victory over Pádraig Harrington and Ernie Els at the Singapore Open yesterday.
The Indian carried a one-shot edge into the final hole in the €4 million Asian Tour event at Sentosa Golf Club's Serapong course, but squandered his initial opportunity to secure the win when his 12-foot birdie attempt curled just past the hole.
But Harrington pushed his five-foot birdie attempt wide, then Els saw his 15-footer stop on the edge of the cup, giving Singh the title.
"The way I'm going to record it is that I played very good but I think I was very fortunate the golfing gods were on my side," said Singh, who closed with a two-under-par 69 for a seven-under 277 total.
"I think those two guys (Harrington and Els) hit some good putts on the last hole and I was fortunate enough to win, and I'll take it."
Singh and Harrington began the final round in a tie for seventh on five under but both managed three birdies on the front nine to surge to the top of the leaderboard.
The tournament developed into a duel between the pair with the Indian edging ahead on the 16th after a moment of bad fortune for the Dubliner.
Hitting from the rough, Harrington saw his approach shot pitch eight feet from the pin before rolling off the putting surface and into the water for a double bogey.
"I had a couple of chances at the end but I wouldn't say that cost me," said Harrington, who fired a closing 70 to finish in a tie for second with Els on six under.
"I had a couple of good breaks earlier on and I was able to hold it together. The shot to 16 for the double bogey was unlucky and I hit a lovely shot into the last and I was six inches away from having a chance for eagle."
Rory McIlroy carded a 69 to finish tied for fourth on five under.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)