Golf US Tour: Ironically, when it mattered most, it was Graeme McDowell's putter that let him down. As Vijay Singh ended his personal drought of 10 months since his last tour win, McDowell, the 26-year-old Ulsterman, who has tried no fewer than five drivers so far this season in his quest for accuracy off the tee, incurred a costly three-putt bogey from 10 feet on the last hole of the Barclays Classic at Westchester Country Club, New York, yesterday.

Sure, his tied-12th finish gave him his best finish on the US Tour of the season. But, for a player brimming with confidence after booking his place in the field for the US Open at Winged Foot, he expected even better. And, having birdied the 17th to move to five-under, McDowell faced a 10-footer for birdie on the last that promised a top-five finish. It was not to be, as the putt slid three feet by and he compounded matters by missing the par putt too.

It left McDowell - who had started the event in 171st on the US money list - slipping out of a top-10 finish. His finishing 71 for 280, four-under, left him ultimately in 12th position.

"My game is coming around nicely and I am excited about the next three months . . . they are picking some team at the end of the August that I would like to be on it. But I have a lot of golf to play," said McDowell, who came through international qualifying at Walton Heath last Monday to qualify for this week's US Open. The season's second major will be his 10th tournament in successive weeks.

Coming down the stretch, Singh was the one who didn't buckle. For much of the afternoon, the Fijian was involved in a head-to-head with Australian Adam Scott.

The Aussie, however, faltered with a run of two bogeys and a double bogey in four holes from the 13th, although he eagled the last to guarnatee second place.

But Singh avoided Scott's rollercoaster, finishing with a final round 68 for 274, 10-under, to be two clear of Scott with Brett Quigley and Billy Andrade a shot further back in tied-third.

At just past 2.20pm yesterday afternoon, some four hours before Singh assumed his crown, Padraig Harrington took his 286th stroke of the tournament, the par putt officially ending his reign as the tournament's champion. The tame finish was in stark contrast to the dramatic eagle putt on the 72nd hole a year ago.

But there were no dark clouds, no pessimism in the Dubliner's demeanour. In truth, Harrington's grip on the title had long gone before his final actions brought confirmation that a whole year had passed since he last savoured glory on tour.

A finishing round 71 for 286, two-over, left him in tied-36th position but facing into this week's US Open at nearby Winged Foot believing his game doesn't require too much tinkering.

"I think you're better off the week before (a major) playing 72 holes not in contention, to sort out where you're at," claimed Harrington.

"I think playing 72 holes in contention could tire you out. Sure, you want to play nicely the week before but it's a build up into the US Open."

In yesterday's final round, Harrington got some momentum with birdies at the sixth and the eight holes which got him back to level par for the tournament. On the Par 5 ninth hole, he hit a fabulous approach to 30 feet. But he raced the eagle putt five feet past the hole, and then missed the birdie putt.

It seemed to knock him back, though. Harrington wasn't to grab another birdie, dropping shots at the 12th and 13th, and in contrast to his eagle finish of a year ago on the 18th, the hole sought some revenge.

After a huge drive, with only 208 yards to the pin, Harrington left his approach 65 yards short of the green after a strong gust of wind blew as he was in mid-swing. "I fell forward and dug the club in the ground," he explained, going on to finish up with a par.