Padraig Harrington celebrates after making a bunker shot for eagle on the 18th hole during the second round of the 2022 TimberTech Championship at Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo: Raj Mehta/Getty Images)
Harrington, who used a hole-out eagle on the 18th hole during the second round to forge a solo fourth-place finish at the TimberTech, is the only other golfer with a shot at catching Alker.
Harrington had two eagles in the round and needed them both to overcome an 8 on his first hole during the round.
He played through some pain at the TimberTech.
“I pulled a muscle in my neck before I went out,” he said of Saturday’s round. “So I was in a lot of trouble out there, couldn’t really complete my backswing. You know, I wouldn’t say I was in a lot of pain, but it was a lot of discomfort that made it awkward and difficult.”
Harrington said he’s battled a balky back over the years but also mentioned another flare up on the course.
“I just pulled a muscle hitting a 5-iron on the range,” he said.
Harrington, who had back-to-back 67s on the weekend, is playing his first full season on the Champions circuit and won three times in 2022, including a major at the U.S. Senior Open.
He turned 50 in August of 2021 but only played two events last year.