European TourBrian KeoghPadraig Harrington, Turkish Airlines, Turkish Airlines Open

"I didn't lose it, Justin went ahead and won it" — Harrington

European TourBrian KeoghPadraig Harrington, Turkish Airlines, Turkish Airlines Open
"I didn't lose it, Justin went ahead and won it" — Harrington
ANTALYA, TURKEY - NOVEMBER 05: Justin Rose of England poses with the trophy after his victory during the final round of the Turkish Airlines Open at the Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort on November 5, 2017 in Antalya, Turkey. (Photo by Warren Litt…

ANTALYA, TURKEY - NOVEMBER 05: Justin Rose of England poses with the trophy after his victory during the final round of the Turkish Airlines Open at the Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort on November 5, 2017 in Antalya, Turkey. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

Pádraig Harrington took nothing but positives from his fourth-place finish behind Justin Rose in the Turkish Airlines Open and while he heads to the Nedbank Golf Challenge brimming with confidence, he can't wait for his winter break and the start of 2018.

The 46-year-old finished just two strokes behind Rose, who closed the gap on Tommy Fleetwood at the top of the Race to Dubai by closing with a six-under 65 to win for the second week running.

Harrington thought he might be leading down the last few holes when he eagled the par-five 15th to go four-under par for the day.

But he took his hat off to Rose (who birdied three of the last four holes) and runner-up finishers Nicolas Colsaerts and Dylan Frittelli and turned his thoughts to South Africa and his winter break.

"I'm very happy leaving," said Harrington, who needed to hole his approach at the 18th to force a playoff and came up dead online but 15 feet short. "I know I didn't win the tournament, but you know, Justin clearly went ahead and won it. I didn't lose it. I made it quite exciting at times out there, but I was happy with what I saw in myself.

"There was a lot of good things. I hit it off the tee so much better this week. Iron play wasn't as good as it could have been, but short game was sharp. So I'm very happy with where I'm at. Very positive signs for me."

Harrington made just one major mistake all day — a three-putt at the 11th — having avoided dropping a shot in spectacular fashion at the 10th, where he found water attempting a raking cut from the trees, by holing out from 60 yards for par.

"For most of the day, I don't watch leaderboards," he said. "There's a lot of ebbs and flows in my own game, ups and downs. So I'm not watching leaderboards until I got to the 14th green. I wanted to know how things were going down 15. I knew I was one behind at that stage.

"I make eagle and I think I'm going to be pretty good. I get to the 16th green and I'm still one behind. So the boys, fair play to the three guys ahead of me. They performed over those last holes. There are no gimmes once you get to 16, 17 and 18. They are all good holes.

"They went forward, which is very impressive in itself. I don't feel bad about coming home with an eagle and pars for my last few holes, but just they were better players today."

He added: "For a lot of the day, I thought it was going to be my day. I think the guys just played better in the end of the day. I don't have any real regrets. I can look at the mistake on No. 11, but you know, that was the only mistake that cost me today; it's not the end of the world."

As for his eagle at the 15th and the closing holes, he said: "I was one behind on 14, when I looked at the leaderboard. Making eagle, I thought, I should be in the lead now. I get up to the 16th green and I'm still seeing one behind. I'm going, well, these guys are really playing great golf and pushing on."

Harrington picked up €296,003 for his efforts, which gets him up and running in the Ryder Cup race.

"I'm looking forward to taking good form to my winter break, where you work on things," he said. "It's nice to show some form at the end of the year and give yourself some clarity about what you're going to do during the winter.

"You're always learning about yourself. This week was a good week for me."

Shane Lowry, who led by two shots alongside Kiradech Aphibarnrat overnight, will be disappointed with his closing 72 for a share of eighth.

Questions will be asked about his putting and that bogey on the 15th. But there are postives too, not least of which was his move from outside the top 60 to 49th in the Race to Dubai, meaning he will head to South Africa and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship with hopes of ending his two year victory drought still very much alive.

As for Rose, his birdie on the 72nd hole was worth 985,495 Race to Dubai points and means he is now just 134, 839 behind long-term leader Fleetwood in the season-long contest with two events remaining.

Fleetwood closed with a round of 68 to finish ten shots back in a share of 23rd place, with the 2017 Race to Dubai now poised for a fascinating finale.  

Rose said: "I haven't been in a situation where I've rolled in many putts on the 18th green to win a tournament and obviously the way things were unfolding on the course today, I knew that that putt on 18 was critical, whether it be for a playoff or it is for the win. It was a very satisfying putt on 18 to make when I had to.

“I could see the leaderboard was very condensed all day and someone knew that it was going to take some type of run of birdies to break out today. There were a few players that did that towards the end. Dylan Frittelli did a brilliant job the last few holes, and my playing partner, Nicolas Colsaerts, too, was really strong down the stretch. So it was a really fun battle today.

“I've been very consistent this year. I've played a lot of good, solid golf and it just hasn't converted into wins. Now I've checked that box and now it begins to be a pretty good year."

Still planning to skip the Nedbank Golf Challenge before returning for the season finale, Rose added: “I put myself in a predicament about next week. I didn't quite fully anticipate being so close to Tommy but the good thing is I can look at Dubai two ways. If I win, then depending obviously on what Tommy does next week, we'll have to see. It's in Tommy's hands still but it's exciting to be within touching distance.”

Harrington picked up €296,003 for his efforts, which gets him up and running in the Ryder Cup race.

"I'm looking forward to taking good form to my winter break, where you work on things," he said. "It's nice to show some form at the end of the year and give yourself some clarity about what you're going to do during the winter.

"You're always learning about yourself. This week was a good week for me."

Shane Lowry, who led by two shots alongside Kiradech Aphibarnrat overnight, will be disappointed with his closing 72 for a share of eighth and there will be criticism.

Questions will be asked about his putting and the decision-making process that led to his bogey on the 15th.

Nobody will be more critical than the Clara man but he will focus on the positives, not least of which was his move from outside the top 60 to 49th in the Race to Dubai, meaning he will head to South Africa and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship with hopes of ending his two year victory drought still very much alive.

As for Rose, his birdie on the 72nd hole was worth 985,495 Race to Dubai points and means he is now just 134, 839 behind long-term leader Fleetwood in the season-long contest with two events remaining.

Fleetwood closed with a round of 68 to finish ten shots back in a share of 23rd place, with the 2017 Race to Dubai now poised for a fascinating finale.  

Rose said: "I haven't been in a situation where I've rolled in many putts on the 18th green to win a tournament and obviously the way things were unfolding on the course today, I knew that that putt on 18 was critical, whether it be for a playoff or it is for the win. It was a very satisfying putt on 18 to make when I had to.

“I could see the leaderboard was very condensed all day and someone knew that it was going to take some type of run of birdies to break out today. There were a few players that did that towards the end. Dylan Frittelli did a brilliant job the last few holes, and my playing partner, Nicolas Colsaerts, too, was really strong down the stretch. So it was a really fun battle today.

“I've been very consistent this year. I've played a lot of good, solid golf and it just hasn't converted into wins. Now I've checked that box and now it begins to be a pretty good year."

Still planning to skip the Nedbank Golf Challenge before returning for the season finale, Rose added: “I put myself in a predicament about next week. I didn't quite fully anticipate being so close to Tommy but the good thing is I can look at Dubai two ways. If I win, then depending obviously on what Tommy does next week, we'll have to see. It's in Tommy's hands still but it's exciting to be within touching distance.”

"For most of the day, I don't watch leaderboards," he said. "There's a lot of ebbs and flows in my own game, ups and downs. So I'm not watching leaderboards until I got to the 14th green. I wanted to know how things were going down 15. I knew I was one behind at that stage.

"I make eagle and I think I'm going to be pretty good. I get to the 16th green and I'm still one behind. So the boys, fair play to the three guys ahead of me. They performed over those last holes. There are no gimmes once you get to 16, 17, 18. They are all good holes.

"They went forward, which is very impressive it itself. I don't feel bad about coming home with an eagle and pars for my last few holes, but just they were better players today."

He added: "For a lot of the day, I thought it was going to be my day. I think the guys just played better in the end of the day. I don't have any real regrets. I can look at the mistake on No. 11, but you know, that was the only mistake that cost me today; it's not the end of the world."

As for his eagle at the 15th and the closing holes, he said: "I was one behind on 14, when I looked at the leaderboard. Making eagle, I thought, I should be in the lead now. I get up to the 16th green and I'm still seeing one behind. I'm going, well, these guys are really playing great golf and pushing on."

Harrington picked up €296,003 for his efforts, which gets him up and running in the Ryder Cup race.

"I'm looking forward to taking good form to my winter break, where you work on things," he said. "It's nice to show some form at the end of the year and give yourself some clarity about what you're going to do during the winter.

"You're always learning about yourself. This week was a good week for me."

Shane Lowry, who led by two shots alongside Kiradech Aphibarnrat overnight, will be disappointed with his closing 72 for a share of eighth.

Questions will be asked about his putting and that bogey on the 15th but there is some positive, not least of which was his move from outide the top 60 to 49th in the Race to Dubai, meaning he will head to South Africa and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship with hopes of ending his two year victory drought still very much alive.

As for Rose, his birdie on the 72nd hole was worth 985,495 Race to Dubai points and means he is now just 134, 839 behind long-term leader Fleetwood in the season-long contest with two events remaining.

Fleetwood closed with a round of 68 to finish ten shots back in a share of 23rd place, with the 2017 Race to Dubai now poised for a fascinating finale.  

Rose said: "I haven't been in a situation where I've rolled in many putts on the 18th green to win a tournament and obviously the way things were unfolding on the course today, I knew that that putt on 18 was critical, whether it be for a playoff or it is for the win. It was a very satisfying putt on 18 to make when I had to.

“I could see the leaderboard was very condensed all day and someone knew that it was going to take some type of run of birdies to break out today. There were a few players that did that towards the end. Dylan Frittelli did a brilliant job the last few holes, and my playing partner, Nicolas Colsaerts, too, was really strong down the stretch. So it was a really fun battle today.

“I've been very consistent this year. I've played a lot of good, solid golf and it just hasn't converted into wins. Now I've checked that box and now it begins to be a pretty good year."

Still planning to skip the Nedbank Golf Challenge before returning for the season finale, Rose added: “I put myself in a predicament about next week. I didn't quite fully anticipate being so close to Tommy but the good thing is I can look at Dubai two ways. If I win, then depending obviously on what Tommy does next week, we'll have to see. It's in Tommy's hands still but it's exciting to be within touching distance.”