Posted April 8, 2012, 10:35 pm

Padraig Harrington happy with Masters performance

Though Padraig Harrington didn’t win his first green jacket, he took a major step in the final round.

Harrington got in contention and despite a closing double bogey shot 72 to tie for eighth place – his best finish in a major since winning the 2008 PGA Championship.

“I’ve won three majors, but that’s the most comfortable I’ve felt through 18 holes in the last round of a major, and I was in a nice place mentally all day,” Harrington said. “So yeah, I take very good positives. I putted well all week, chipped well. I did a lot of good things this week.”

Harrington posted his fourth top-10 finish in 13 Masters appearances.

ROSE RETURNING: Though Justin Rose didn’t win the Masters, he did the next best thing.

Rose began the day tied for 16th. With his final-round 68, which included a 5-under-par stretch on the final seven holes, he climbed into a tie for eighth and grabbed an early invitation for the 2013 Masters. The top 16 finishes and ties return for next year’s event.

Rose began the second nine at 1-over. He birdied Nos. 12 and 13, then posted an eagle at the par-5 15th. He followed at No. 17 with the last of his four birdies and parred No. 18 to finish at 4-under.