The Open - Sublime Harrington defends Open title

Eurosport - Wed, 23 Jul 10:19:00 2008

Padraig Harrington became the first European to successfully defend The Open since James Braid in 1906, with a four-shot victory at Royal Birkdale.

GOLF 2008 The Open Harrington - 0

The Irishman began the day two adrift of veteran Greg Norman, but put together a stunning final-round 69 to end the Australian's dream of becoming the oldest Major winner in history.

On an enthralling closing day, where 30mph winds once again put par at a premium, Harrington capitalised on dropped shots at 10,12 and 13 from The Great White Shark and completed the back nine in four under to seal victory with a three-over-par total of 283.

With Norman's challenge extinguished, 36-year-old Harrington arrived at the par-five 17th with a two shot advantage over clubhouse leader Ian Poulter, and proceeded to make eagle courtesy of a stunning 270-yard second.

Needing just triple bogey or better at the last he struck another sublime approach and calmly two-putted to win his second Major championship, a year after triumphing in a play-off against Sergio Garcia at Carnoustie.

The 53-year-old Norman was left to reflect on a fairytale assault to claim the Claret Jug for a third time that ultimately fell short - 15 years after he last won The Open at Royal St George's.

Norman finished tied for third with Sweden's Henrik Stenson after a disappointing six-over-par round of 77, that began with three straight bogeys and never truly caught fire.

For Ian Poulter, a superb 69 garnered the runners-up spot and his best finish in Major.

The Englishman played with composed authority throughout and completed his round with a fine par putt at the last to keep alive hopes of forcing a play-off.

Ultimately it wasn't to be, but Poulter's standing in the game, not to mention his Ryder Cup hopes, will have been buffeted considerably by his showing.

Elsewhere, it was a day to remember for English amateur Chris Wood, who finished tied for fifth at ten over par to take the silver medal - just seven shots behind Harrington's winning total.

England's David Howell shot the round of the day, with a three-under-par 67 that included eagle at 17 and earned him a share of seventh place.

Sergio Garcia's championship ended with a miserable 78, complete with five bogeys and two doubles, to leave him tied for 51st.

Will Tidey / Eurosport

Comment 19 - 38 of 38

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  1. harro is the best irish the best european and he will be the best in the world in 1-3 years

    From gavpmnev, on Sat 16 Aug 8:01PM

  2. Sorry buggered that one up, the second in 9 years:(

    From domani, on Mon 21 Jul 12:06PM

  3. Congrats from Saudi, even if you did raise the temperature even higher. One for the numties who dont know what a European is, last year PH was the first European for 8 years to win a major, this year its the first for nine years, 8+1, ok?

    From domani, on Mon 21 Jul 12:00PM

  4. Hey Gonzalo - just cos he is the best in the world doesnt mean he would have won the Open. Your hero Tiger was best in the world last year when Padraig won at Carnoustie. Get your head out your ass and recognise another true champion in Padraig Harrington.
    Well done Paddy awesome golf down the stretch yesterday.

    From The Trout, on Mon 21 Jul 11:02AM

  5. Well done Padraig, I was so pleased to see you win, all scousers were rooting for you. Well done Greg, you give all of us 50+ a great week end and we were able to hold our heads up ,well a bit anyway. I hope the real winner was the game of golf, four days of watching magicians do there thing, family's out together, no trouble, great well done to all the spectators to.

    From stephen k, on Mon 21 Jul 7:40AM

  6. Well yesterday I said here that it was Harrington as Greg would collapse and KJ had been here b4 too and dropped away................ Guess I was right! WELL DONE PADRAIG SKILL COMPOSURE AND A NICE GUY TOO

    From david s, on Mon 21 Jul 6:26AM

  7. hey kev.robertson if you are not aware, woods won the US open with a bad knee so no i dont think Harrington would have taken it if woods was there. Not saying Harrington is a bad golfer, just not the best in the world.

    From Gonzalo C, on Mon 21 Jul 4:13AM

  8. well done padraig, that shot on the 17th was incredible, a deserving champion and a nice guy to match

    From Fran L, on Mon 21 Jul 3:18AM

  9. I'm not Irish, but Padraig put on a show of mental willpower over lousy weather conditions, as is usual and unique to the Open - well deserved and cemented his place in golfing history. More satisfying showing I guess, in that it proved that last year was no fluke, but a platform to push on.

    Hats off to the Great White Shark, but even with age, he still couldn't close it out.

    From ispurs, on Mon 21 Jul 2:18AM

  10. European as in person from Europe!!

    From Gregg B, on Mon 21 Jul 1:05AM

  11. mitch smith; Arnold Palmer did it in 1960 and 61 but like Watson and Woods he is American not European. Peter Thompson won in 1954, 55, and 56 but he is Australian not European; see where this theme is going.... Changing tack; well done Padraig, Greg Norman, Chris Wood, and finally in a major, Ian Poulter.

    From Mark K, on Sun 20 Jul 11:07PM

  12. Well done Paddy a very deserving winner.Best golfer in Ireland

    From ardcarraig19, on Sun 20 Jul 11:01PM

  13. deserved winner with a great attitude. what a performance from greg norman.

    From William R, on Sun 20 Jul 10:52PM

  14. Tom Watson is from the USA last time i looked on a map that was not in Europe

    From joe c, on Sun 20 Jul 10:46PM

  15. Padraig, way to go, congrats from a Paddy in the US!

    From Donal, on Sun 20 Jul 10:23PM

  16. well deserved winner. Padraig you did not only golfers in Ireland proud but in the rest of Europe as well. Terrifis --I could watch your shot on the seventeenth as long as any channel cares to show it which I'm certain will be countless times.

    From doog.manson, on Sun 20 Jul 9:56PM

  17. UNLUCKY GREG A TRUE LEGEND OF THE GAME MAY THE SHARK ATTACK AGAIN

    From delwigzie, on Sun 20 Jul 9:46PM

  18. UNLUCKY GREG A TRUE LEGEND OF THE GAME MAY THE SHARK ATTACK AGAIN

    From delwigzie, on Sun 20 Jul 9:46PM

  19. well done paddy you are the best links player there is around today .thanks for making us proud ,

    From kilcoolecelt, on Sun 20 Jul 9:45PM

  20. Congrads' from Moscow Padraig.... you made every irishman proud..

    From brooklen, on Sun 20 Jul 9:43PM
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