CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (Reuters):

Irishman Padraig Harrington beat Sergio Garcia of Spain by one stroke in a four-hole British Open play-off yesterday to land his maiden victory in a major and the first by a European for eight years.

Harrington, 35, completed the extra holes in 15 shots (level par) after the two Ryder Cup colleagues had finished the championship locked together on seven-under 277 following an incident-packed day of high drama on the east coast of Scotland.

Garcia, who had led the championship from day one, returned a closing two-over 73 while his playoff rival had a four-under 67.

"I have come a long way," Harrington told the BBC as he choked back the tears after becoming the first Irish winner of the Open since Fred Daly in 1947. "When I turned pro I would have settled for becoming a journeyman.

"It's been great to be named as someone who could win a major but that brings its own pressure. To actually go and do it, well I don't know what to think.

"I'm sure there's a helluva party going on back in Ireland."

Argentina's Andres Romero was third on 278 after a remarkable 67 that included 10 birdies, two double-bogeys and two bogeys.

GREEN SPARKLES

Sharing fourth spot on five-under 279 were Australian left-hander Richard Green, who fired a course record-equalling 64, and South African Ernie Els (69).

Harrington seemed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory after going to the 72nd tee with a one-stroke lead. Evoking memories of Frenchman Jean Van de Velde's spectacular collapse here eight years ago, the Irishman drove into the notorious Barry Burn before his third shot also found a watery grave in front of the green.

But Garcia, playing two matches behind, then saw his eight-foot putt for outright victory agonisingly lip out of the cup at the last.

"If I had lost it would have been hard to take," said Harrington. "But I stayed positive and in the play-off I did the business.

"If I had lost I don't know what I'd think about playing golf again."

The genial Dubliner, so often a bridesmaid but rarely the bride after coming second a combined 30 times each side of the Atlantic, finally crossed the threshold in the play-off to collect the first prize of 750,000 pounds ($1.54 million).

He became the first European winner of a major since Briton Paul Lawrie triumphed at Carnoustie in 1999.

World number one Tiger Woods, bidding to land a hat-trick of coveted claret jugs, carded a 70 for a two-under 282.