Irishman Padraig Harrington became the third player to book his place at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda this October after winning in hugely exciting fashion at the British Open yesterday.

Tournament leader Sergio Garcia of Spain was one stroke ahead of Harrington on the final hole, but after missing a nasty, downhill ten-foot putt for par, the tournament went to a play-off between the two Ryder Cup team-mates.

Perhaps still smarting from having squandered a lead he had held since the end of Thursday’s first round, Garcia was well below his best over the four play-off holes and Harrington, who was also chasing his first major, won handily.

Harrington, undisputedly one of Europe’s best players, is the highest profile golfer so far to qualify for the Grand Slam, which is to be hosted at the Mid-Ocean Club.

Little-known American Zach Johnson triumphed in the Master’s this year while the chimney-smoking, exercise-phobe Angel Cabrera of Argentina recently claimed the US Open title.

The British Open was Harrington’s first major, but as a former European Order of Merit winner, there’s no doubt his presence will add some star-quality to what had looked an undeniably bland field up to yesterday.

The man everybody involved with the Grand Slam is desperately hoping will win a major this year, Tiger Woods, struggled with his game in Scotland this week, finishing 15th.

The world number one was seeking to become the first person to win three British Opens in a row since Australian Peter Thomson in 1956.

Woods has finished runner-up in two out of the three majors so far this year and only has one more chance to qualify for the Grand Slam: at the PGA Championship in next month — a tournament Premier Ewart Brown will be attending.

Commenting on Harrington’s victory yesterday, Brown said: “Now three-quarters of our scorecard is filled. The addition of Padraig Harrington is a huge plus for Bermuda tourism because above all else this tournament is about marketing our outstanding tourism product on TV to 100 countries around the world. To have a player like Padraig from Europe provides outstanding new marketing opportunities for us . . . I plan to be at the PGA Championship and you’ll have to forgive me if I’m cheering for Tiger Woods. He’s the biggest marketing presence out there so he’s the one we hope to see. Also when I talk to golfing fans here in Bermuda they all tell me they want Tiger.”