Sport-Blog.com

For one of the very few times in Tiger Woods stellar career the game's top player gave away a late fourth round lead and with it, failed in his quest to win his third straight Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in Japan last weekend.

Capping what has been a spectacular year for himself, Ireland's Padraig Harrington rallied from three shots back with six to play to take Woods into a playoff and then top golf's best closer with consecutive birdies to prevail on the second extra hole of sudden death.

Woods appeared to hold an insurmountable lead when went three shots up after 12 holes. The key swing came on sixteen when Woods three putted while Harrington was nailing a 15 footer. The three putt bogey against the birdie of Harrington tied the match.

Both players would birdie 18 to finish regulation at nine under. With his consecutive birdies on the first two playoff holes, that meant Harrington finished his round with three straight and four birdies in five holes. Woods lamented missing the three foot putt on 16 that tied the match.

With the loss, Woods dropped to a still incredible 45 wins and 6 losses in worldwide events when heading into the final round with a lead. The loss dropped him to 12-2 overall, worldwide, in playoffs. Woods only other playoff loss occurred in 1998 when he lost the Nissan Open to Billy Mayfair.

In knocking off Woods, Harrington won more, earning $1.69 million at the Dunlop, than he did on the PGA Tour for the entire season. Entering only 15 events on this side of the pond, Harrington had one second place and just three top tens while missing three cuts in a forgettable 2006 season in America. His record translated to winning only $1.34 million during the PGA season.

But it should be noted that overall it was actually the best year of the Irishman's career. Harrington took home top honors on the European Order of Merit in 2006 for the first time in his career by edging England's Paul Casey when the Dubliner finished second at the season ending Volvo Masters. Harrington had put himself in position by winning his tenth career event world-wide, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, in October.

Topping Woods in a playoff also had great symbolism for Harrington in 2006. Prior to this year, Harrington was beginning to develop a lengthy track record as a bridesmaid. Though he can claim ten wins, the smooth swinging Irishman has recorded an incredible 30 second place finishes already in his brief career. In addition, the European Tour Order of Merit title had previously been just beyond his reach. Harrington had finished second in 2001 and 2002 to Retief Goosen both years, then finished third in both 2003 and 2004 before finally topping the Order of Merit this season.

Meanwhile, Tiger Woods continued what has been a sterling 2006 season, even if he failed to take home the championship. After taking off five straight weeks, Woods has returned to competition the past two weeks and though he has gone winless, the game's number one notched another pair of top tens by finishing second in each event.