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Padraig Harrington drained a 15-foot putt on the final hole of Oakland Hills to secure his second successive Major title with a two-shot victory at the US PGA Championship.

The Irishman shot a fourth-round 66 for a three-under 277 aggregate, and in finishing ahead of Sergio Garcia and Ben Curtis became the first European winner of the event since Tommy Armour in 1930.

For Harrington, victory came just two weeks after he retained his Open Championship title at Royal Birkdale, and was ensured with a unerring putt at the last that dropped to bring the packed galleries to their feet and resign Garcia to painful defeat.

The Spaniard memorably lost out to Harrington in a play-off for last year's Open Championship at Carnoustie, and once again fell short in his quest to win an elusive first Major title by the finest of margins.

Having played some of the most exhilarating golf of the tournament, and avoided a single dropped shot through 15 holes, Garcia shared the lead with Curtis when he found the water with his approach at the 16th and proceeded to make bogey.

Harrington was also wayward with his second and found a greenside bunker, but the 36-year-old held his nerve to get up and down and draw level with Garcia. Meanwhile Curtis's challenge faded with a bogey at 15.

The 238-yard, par-three 17th followed for the two leaders, and despite Garcia hitting a superb tee shot inside Harrington's, it was the Open champion who made birdie and took a one-shot lead into the last.

After Harrington found a fairway bunker it appeared Garcia could yet force a play-off, but he went for broke with a five-wood from the rough on his approach and came up just short - and in the sand.

Harrington seized his opportunity and conjured a magical third, before rolling home the winning putt to join an esteemed group of triple-Major winners and end the 78-year European drought at the US PGA Championship.

Garcia's woes were compounded with a missed par putt that allowed American Curtis to move into a tie for second place with a four at the last - and in the process secure a Ryder Cup berth in Paul Azinger's US team.

Elsewhere, a fine round of 68 from Colombian Camilo Villegas earned him a tie for fourth with Sweden's Henrik Stenson.

England's Justin Rose also had a good day at the office, compiling a patient round of 71 to finish eight shots off the lead and secure a spot in Nick Faldo's European Ryder Cup team.

World number two Phil Mickelson never really caught fire in the final round, but a par round of 70 garnered the American a tie for sixth place with Argentine Andres Romero.

Harrington Factbox:

* Born August 31, 1971 in Dublin.

* Turned professional in 1995, winning his first tournament - the Spanish Open - in 1996 before teaming up with Paul McGinley at Kiawah Island a year later to win Ireland's first World Cup for 39 years.

* Made his Ryder Cup debut in 1999 and was a vital member of the victorious European teams in 2002, 2004 and 2006.

* Renowned as a consistent runner-up - he has finished second on 30 occasions - Harrington became the first Irishman to win a US PGA Tour event at the 2005 Honda Classic before adding a second at the Barclays Classic later that year.

* Having twice finished second (2001, 2002) and third (2003, 2004) in the European order of merit, he topped the year-end rankings for first time in 2006.

* Ended a 25-year wait for a home winner of the Irish Open when he won the 2007 title at Adare, the 11th European Tour victory of his career, to emulate the feat of John O'Leary in 1982.

* Broke a more pressing wait, the eight years since Europe's last major champion, when he beat Spaniard Sergio Garcia in a playoff to win his first major title in the 2007 Open at Carnoustie.

* Retained his Open crown at Royal Birkdale last month with a four-shot victory, despite an injury to his right wrist which threatened his participation.

* Sealed his second successive major title, and third overall, with a two-stroke victory in the US PGA Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club.

Will Tidey / Eurosport