Padraig Harrington Wins British Open - Again
Sunday July 20, 2008
A year after breaking through with his first major championship victory in the 2007 Open Championship, Padraig Harrington has done it again - winning the 2008 British Open.
And he did it with steady play throughout much of the day, until finishing in a more spectacular fashion with an eagle on the 71st hole. Harrington wound up winning by four strokes:
Final Leaders
Padraig Harrington, 283
Ian Poulter, 287
Henrik Stenson, 289
Greg Norman, 289
Jim Furyk, 290
a-Chris Wood, 290
Full Scores
So Harrington now joins the list of back-to-back winners of the British Open. Since 1900, that list includes:
- 2007-08 - Padraig Harrington
- 2005-06 - Tiger Woods
- 1982-83 - Tom Watson
- 1971-72 - Lee Trevino
- 1961-62 - Arnold Palmer
- 1954-56 - Peter Thomson
- 1949-50 - Bobby Locke
- 1928-29 - Walter Hagen
- 1936-37 - Bobby Jones
- 1905-06 - James Braid
See:
Comments
I have always and will always be a Greg Norman fan, but it was, as in the past, had to watch him self-destruct. He fell back into the old Greg, making choices that were wrong such as using driver at almost all par 4’s and 5’s. He is one shark that just won’t be tamed.
Still, it’s a relief to see Harrington win at one under par for the day. Even taking away all of Norman’s poor decisions, he would not have beaten Harrington, so kudo’s to the Irishman with who sounds like a leprechaun.
I’ll be curious to see if Greg can keep that same fire in his belly next week at the Senior British Open or if that will be impossible. I’m disappointed that we’re getting to little Senior British Open coverage here in the USA.
Greg was surprised that he’s qualified for the 2009 Masters. That’s exciting since it has always been the one tournament he wants most to win. He’ll get one more chance.
John