Luck O' the Irish: Harrington Wins British Open

Padraig Harrington needed all the luck he could muster on the final day of the British Open to take home his first major victory, making him the first Irishman to win the British Open in 60 years.

Harrington went into the final hole of the tournament with a one-stroke lead. He then proceeded to hit his ball into the famous Barry Burn twice, losing his lead in the process.

Harrington's tee shot on the 18^th hit a bridge and went into the burn, he then proceeded to hit his drop shot into the burn. He eventually made a clutch putt to record a double-bogey for the hole. Harrington started the hole with a one-stroke lead, but exited down a stroke.

Even after all of his misfortune on the 18th hole, Harrington was lucky that Sergio Garcia was having an even tougher day than he was. After Harrington went down a stroke, Garcia still had one hole to play and a one-shot lead. He eventually bogeyed the 18^th hole after hitting into the bunker and went to a playoff with Harrington.

Harrington went up by two strokes after three holes of the four-hole playoff. He played it safe on the 18^th, and final, hole by laying up in front of the burn with an iron. Garcia made a great shot by hitting a six-iron out of the bunker to put the ball within range for a birdie. He then missed the 25-foot putt and Harrington made his putt and celebrated his victory.

Garcia still has not won a major championship. The 27-year old Spaniard was in his best position to claim his first this year with a three-stroke lead entering the final day, but he couldn't seem to make the big putt when it mattered the most. Harrington shot a 4-under par 67 to close the gap with Garcia and force the playoff.

Carnoustie certainly lived up to its legacy with the drama that it presented on the 18^th hole. Harrington's performance on the last hole brought to mind one of the most famous collapses in golf history. John Van de Velde blew a three-shot lead on this same hole at Carnoustie at the 1999 British Open. Van de Velde hit a shot off of the grandstand into the high rough, he then proceeded to hit his ball into the burn leading to the famous shot of him, wading in the burn without shoes or socks, looking at his ball. Van de Velde eventually went on to a playoff and lost.