Harrington in positive mood after hat-trick bid fails

By Tony Jimenez

TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) - Six birdies in 72 holes was never going to be enough for Padraig Harrington to capture a hat-trick of British Opens but he was in positive mood as he prepared to hand over the famous Claret Jug.

"It's come to an end but it's been a good two years," the 37-year-old Irishman told reporters after a closing 73 gave him a 12-over-par aggregate of 292.

"It had to come to an end at some stage (but) I've another 20-odd of these to come back to. I look forward to that (especially) with (59-year-old) Tom Watson showing it's (still) possible to be competitive."

Harrington, who lifted the Claret Jug at Carnoustie in 2007 and at Royal Birkdale a year later, said his experiences on Turnberry's Ailsa Course would stand him in good stead.

"I always want to get better and this is a way of getting better," he said. "I will be a better player as a result of this week and I will have the last laugh."

Looking ahead to next year's British Open at the 'home of golf', Harrington said: "St Andrews is a tough course to win on but I think I can get it (the trophy) back there."

For now, though, the three-times major winner will focus his attentions on his title defence at next month's U.S. PGA Championship at Hazeltine, Minnesota.

"The key now is to be ready for the PGA and that's really what I'm looking at," said Harrington, who had missed five successive cuts on the PGA and European tours coming into the British Open.