Padraig Harrington Repeats as British Open Champion

Padraig Harrington joins a select group of players that includes Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson and Tiger Woods by winning back to back Open Championships. That is the only mention that Tiger Woods rates here or should rate anywhere. The man that beat Tiger by 5 strokes last year to win the claret jug has won the Open again this year. Repeating as Open Champion is Padraig Harrington's story, no one else's.

Steady par play marked the start of Harrington's final round on Sunday until he gave into 3 straight bogeys at the end of the front nine, but only after his final day playing partner Greg Norman had fallen off the lead with 4 bogeys. Padraig returned to steady play at the start of the back nine and finished with a bogey free 9 holes that included 2 birdies and an eagle to pull 4 strokes away from his nearest competitor, Ian Poulter.

Padraig made the best approach shot of the day on the last hole, a far cry from his Van de Velde like finish to regulation last year at Carnoustie. Harrington was so focused on getting to the 18th green, his brother in law caddy had to practically chase him down to retrieve the club from his second shot still in his hand.

Harrington commented after his victory that his wrist problem turned out to be a welcome distraction during his play where the injury took some of the pressure and focus away from his and the media's expectations of a repeat win.

In what had to be a more relaxed finish to the Open than last year. Padraig was smiling from his second shot on 17, that set up the eagle that essentially clinched the victory, all the way to his speech at the trophy presentation where he commentated that he was having so much fun that he didn't want to get down off the stage.

Ian Poulter won the silver salver with his second place finish and seemed only slightly disappointed at the presentation, if not for his coming so close to the victory then certainly for the plate's lack of availability in designer colors.

Greg Norman proved he was doing more than just showing off for his new bride by staying at the top of the heap all 4 days of the Open. His focus was so great on winning, he appeared genuinely surprised to be informed that, because of his 3rd place finish, he was eligible for the Masters next year.

In the end the stormy conditions on Wednesday seemed to do more harm to Ernie Els than any other player of note. With rounds of 69, 74 and 69 on Friday through Sunday, his opening round 80 kept him out of the hunt. It was a USGA, U.S. Open style tough setup combined with rough weather, rather than any single factor, that made this one of he the toughest British Opens in recent memory.