Ireland's Padraig Harrington won his first US PGA title in seven years on Monday, defeating 21-year-old American rookie Daniel Berger in a playoff to capture the storm-hit Honda Classic.

The 43-year-old Dubliner, a three-time major champion who has fallen to 297th in the world rankings, withstood a dramatic morning shootout for the $1.098 million (982,000 euro) top prize at the $6.1 million tournament.

Harrington found the water at the par-3 17th in regulation for a double bogey but sank a tension-packed 15-foot birdie putt at the par-5 18th hole to force the playoff, matching Berger on six-under 274 over 72 holes.

Both began the playoff with pars at 18 and then at 17, Harrington put his tee shot four feet from the cup and Berger found the water. That allowed the Irishman to two-putt for the title.

Harrington won the 2007 and 2008 British Open and 2008 PGA Championship, the last of those being his most recent PGA victory.

Berger and Harrington were not the only leaders to stumble down the stretch, with England's Ian Poulter and Paul Casey and American Patrick Reed also faltering over the final holes.

A major thunderstorm on Saturday pushed the finish to Monday morning, when sunny skies greeted players for a thilling back-nine title battle.

Leading scores on Monday after the final round of the weather-disrupted US PGA Tour Honda Classic (USA unless noted, par 70, Harrington wins with par on second playoff hole):

274 - Daniel Berger 68-71-71-64, Padraig Harrington (IRL) 67-66-71-70

275 - Paul Casey (ENG) 69-70-68-68, Russell Knox (SCO) 69-68-70-68, Ian Poulter (ENG) 71-64-66-74

276 - Jamie Donaldson (WAL) 68-71-71-66

277 - Jeff Overton 71-68-69-69, Jim Herman 65-72-71-69, Luke Donald (ENG) 69-67-74-67, Patrick Reed 67-67-70-73

278 - Joost Luiten (NED) 71-71-67-69, George McNeill 72-70-68-68, Rory Sabbatini (RSA) 68-75-69-66, Brendan Steele 66-69-71-72, Brian Harman 70-74-70-64

279 - Camilo Villegas (COL) 73-71-67-68

280 - Jason Dufner 71-69-70-70, John Huh 70-73-68-69, Daniel Summerhays 71-68-70-71, Phil Mickelson 71-67-69-73, Martin Flores 67-71-74-68

281 - Zac Blair 71-71-69-70, William McGirt 71-71-69-70, Steve Wheatcroft 74-70-69-68

282 - Sean O'Hair 70-71-71-70, Ryan Palmer 71-72-71-68, Brendon de Jonge (ZIM) 69-71-71-71, Ryo Ishikawa (JPN) 74-65-72-71, David Lingmerth (SWE) 68-75-70-69, Lee Westwood (ENG) 71-73-72-66

India's Lahiri confident entering WGC Doral test

India's Anirban Lahiri, who has jumped to 34th in world rankings after two wins last month, makes his first start in the World Golf Championships event at Doral this week.

And the 27-year-old Asian Tour No. 1 hopes his debut at the Cadillac Championship signals the start of greater things in America as he dreams of becoming his homeland's first major winner.

"It's quite amazing so much has changed," Lahiri said. "I didn't expect to be in this situation that I am now. I'm happy it has come and it's a fantastic time. I'm at a point in my career where I hope to move westward and the wins have helped. I'm excited."

Lahiri won the Malaysian Open and Indian Open in a span of three weeks, giving him four titles in the past 10 months, and his ranking now puts him in position to play all four majors and grab a spot for the International team in this year's Presidents Cup.

This week will give Lahiri a test of how he stands against the US PGA elite. In his first WGC event, the HSBC Champions in Shanghai last year, Lahiri shared 28th.

"There will be a lot of firsts for me," Lahiri said. "I'm really eager for all that. It's exciting times ahead and I will approach them in a similar manner. I'm trying to get better every day and will continue to work hard at improving my skills."