NEWTOWNMOUNTKENNEDY, Ireland, April 21 (UPI) -- Padraig Harrington secured the inaugural Seve Trophy on Sunday by defeating Jose Maria Olazabal to give Britian and Ireland the victory over Continental Europe.
Harrington won four of his five matches over the weekend, including a 3 and 2 triumph over Olazabal that prevented the Continental Europe team from rallying during the round of singles matches.
Britain and Ireland needed to earn only 3 1/2 of a possible 10 points Sunday to win the match-play tournament. It earned five for a 14 1/2-11 1/2 triumph.
Continental Europe won three of the day's first four matches, but Britain and Ireland reeled off three consecutive wins, including Harrington's.
Playing in front of a home crowd, Harrington went 4-1 in the tournament, teaming with fellow Irishman Paul McGinley.
Britain and Ireland had a 5-3 lead after Friday's foursomes and greensomes and increased it to 10-6 in Saturday's foursome and four-ball matches.
Continental Europe needed to win seven singles matches to force a playoff. It looked good early as captain Seve Ballesteros of Spain, countryman Miguel Angel Jimenez and Robert Karlsson of Sweden posted wins.
Andrew Oldcorn of Scotland halved his match with Swede Niclas Fasth, and Lee Westwood of Britain moved his team within a point of victory with a 3 and 2 win over France's Raphael Jacquelin.
Harrington then rolled over Olazabal to earn the trophy.
