Padraig Harrington survived the most amazing, emotionally-charged stomach-churning roller-coaster ride to capture golf's Open Championship in fading light at Carnoustie last night.

The Irish don’t need much of an excuse to get the squeeze boxes and fiddles out to celebrate, but you can bet the streets of Dublin, Cork, Kerry and any other town or city you care to mention were awash with the Guinness as the whole country went into party mode.

Harrington beat long-time leader Sergio Garcia by one shot in a four-hole play-off after a final round of sustained excitement in which the lead was held by three different players at various times.

'If I'd lost after what happened on 18 I don't know what I would have thought about playing golf again' - Padraig Harrington


But the real drama was reserved for the final few holes as first one, and then another, hopeful challenger fell by the wayside.

Garcia, who had led from the very first round, journeyed to hell and back four times before taking advantage of an unbelievable string of errors by Harrington on the last green. After seven holes the Spaniard was four ahead and looking comfortable. By the 16th he was two down, then one up again before a dramatic finale unfolded on the last two holes.

Enter an impudent young Argentinian by the name of Andres Romero, whose only claim to fame was winning three minor tournaments in South America. While the big names – Ernie Els among them – were beginning to scramble in  and out of contention, Romero was stringing together a remarkable round that included 10 birdies.

By the time he reached the 16th, he was two shots ahead of the field at nine-under par. Then it all went pear-shaped. Had he been able to finish the last two in par four he would have won the title. Instead, he concocted a six and five cocktail that not only knocked him sideways but out of the reckoning.

That left Harrington one shot ahead of Garcia (who was a hole behind him) coming up the 18th. And that was when the luck of the Irish deserted him. He finished up in the Barry Burn twice, and dropped two shots, giving Garcia a chance to snatch the coveted Claret Jug with a regulation four on the last.

But drama continued to heap on drama and Garcia could only respond with a five. Unbelievable. All square and four extra play-off holes to decide the winner.

That was when Irish fortitude triumphed over Spanish doggedness. You could see the confidence drain from Garcia as he realised he had left slip his greatest chance of a first Major title.

Not so Harrington. After his 18th-hole disaster he pulled his game back together, went in to a two-shot lead with a birdie against Garcia’s bogey at the first extra hole, and held on over the remaining, tormenting minutes.

"If I'd lost after what happened on 18 I don't know what I would have thought about playing golf again," said the Dubliner, who the European Order of Merit last year.

It’s 60 years since the last Irishman, Fred Daly, triumphed in The Open - the oldest and most revered championship in golf. What better reason for an all-night hooley!