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Padraig Harrington finished the back nine at the FedEx St. Jude Classic on Sunday in 34 strokes to secure a share of tenth place in Memphis with his round of 71, and now moves to Merion for the US Open.
After dropping consecutive shots on holes four and five, Harrington made the turn in 37, and ended the week with a one over par finish.
It was Harris English who won the honours, making birdies on two of the final three holes to hold off Phil Mickelson and Scott Stallings by two strokes.
"I had probably 10 high school friends out there today," said English, who picked up 500 FedExCup points and moved to 13th in the standings with the win. "And I know that if I make a birdie or a bogey, they're probably going to be the same and they're rooting me on. I was just really relaxed out there today. Bogeyed 8 and 9, which was tough. But I knew if I kept it together on the back nine, I could make a run at the thing."
The 23-year-old former University of Georgia star in his second year on the PGA TOUR survived a final round where he had six birdies and five bogeys. He finished with a 1-under 69 for a 12-under 268 total to get the victory in the same state where he helped Baylor in Chattanooga win four Tennessee high school golf titles.
English said caddie Brian Smith also helped him refocus as he made the turn.
"I really didn't think I'd be in this seat right here coming off 9," English said. "I thought I kind of made some really dumb bogeys on 8, 9 and kind of shot myself out of the tournament. But Smitty was saying, `Hey let's go beat this back nine. Let's get back under par for the tournament for the day, and let's get after it.' So it was almost pedal to the metal."
English got four of his birdies on the back nine and saw on No. 14 that he was near the lead at 10 under. He made a 5-foot birdie putt on No. 16 to tie Stallings for the lead, but Stallings bogeyed No. 18 to give English the lead to himself. English made a 17-foot birdie putt on No. 17, and overcame shaking hands as he two-putted No. 18 to pick up the winner's check of $1,026,000.
"It's quite an unbelievable feeling," English said.
Mickelson shot a 67, and Stallings had a 68. Mickelson said English finished strong and has been playing some great golf, but the four-time major winner got most of what he wanted after not playing the previous three weeks as he tuned up for the U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club.
Harris English moved to 13th in the FedExCup. See what other players made a big move at TPC Southwind.Standings
"I'm really encouraged with the way I hit my irons," Mickelson said. "Got to get the 3-wood in play a little bit more, although next week at Merion distance won't be as critical as TPC Southwind. I'll be able to hit higher and softer shots."
English became the fourth player to win the event in his first start since the tournament moved to TPC Southwind in 1989 and the second straight after Dustin Johnson a year ago.
The final round returned to normal Memphis weather with the temperature reaching the high 80s along with the wind blowing from the south at 10-15 mph as it usually does at TPC Southwind.
English won the Southern Amateur in 2011 and was an amateur when he won on the Web.com Tour in July 2011. He moved to the PGA TOUR in 2012 and finished 79th in FedExCup points. Now he has his fourth top 10 this year and a precious invitation to the Masters for the Georgia native.
Mickelson birdied Nos. 13 and 16, but he just missed a 13-footer for birdie on the par-4 17th. He then went right at the hole on No. 18 from 151 yards and just missed, leaving a 2-foot birdie putt to tie Stallings at 10 under.
English then finished off the win and celebrated with a simple fist pump.
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