Padraig dumps caddie

14 April 2012

Padraig Harrington has ended a five-year partnership with caddie Dave McNeilly after finishing second - for the 22nd time in his career - at the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open in Heidelberg yesterday.

His friend Ronan Flood is taking on the job in the short term, starting with the Memorial Tournament on the US Tour next week.

After losing a thrilling duel with South African Trevor Immelman, Harrington said: "Dave and I have been a very good team but things do go stale and I just feel I need something new."

Harrington fired a 66 in the final round at St Leon-Rot, but Immelman's 65 was the best of the day as he picked up the £335,000 first prize before heading to Wentworth for this week's Volvo PGA Championship.

British Masters champion Barry Lane, Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell and Swede Joakim Haeggman all qualified for next month's US Open as the leading three non-exempt players on the European Order of Merit this season.

Another spot will go to Sunday's winner at Wentworth - and that is the only way Colin Montgomerie can avoid having to go through the qualifying tournament at Sunningdale on 28 June.

Steve Flesch celebrated his 37th birthday by winning the Colonial tournament by one stroke from Chad Campbell at Fort Worth.

Flesch carded a three-under-par 67 to finish on 11-under 269 and win his second US Tour title.