Padraig Harrington fired an impressive final round 68 to finish tied for 24th behind surprise winner Nick Watney in the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines.

The reigning Open and US PGA champion was making up the numbers in 48th place after following an opening 71 on the easier North course with a pair of two-over par 74s on the South.

But he saved the best for last and will be hoping for even better when he continues his countdown to the Masters at Pebble Beach this week.

Padraig Harrington might be the last year's PGA Tour Player of the Year and the winner of three of the last six Majors, yet he's not even close to being regarded a crowd-puller by the organisers of this week's Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines.

Padraig Harrington looked more like a battered boxer than a major champion as he prepared to return to action in the Buick Invitational in San Diego today.

The Dubliner turned up a Torrey Pines with sticking plasters above and below his right eye after undergoing surgery to remove two non-malignant sun spots two weeks ago.