Steadiness Beats Sentiment as Harrington Prevails
SOUTHPORT, England — By doing what major championship winners do best, Padraig Harrington of Ireland won the 137th British Open at Royal Birkdale by four strokes on Sunday, defending the Open title he won in a playoff last year at Carnoustie. He faltered but did not fall, stared down defeat without blinking, overcame his own mistakes, ignored an aching right wrist and outlasted his opponents.In the process, he validated his place in golf history, shooting a final-round 69 for a total of three-over-par 283 to become the first European in more than 100 years to successfully defend the Open title. Playing the final six holes in four under par, with an eagle at the 17th hole, he rendered moot Ian Poulter’s late charge and turned back 53-year-old Greg Norman’s quixotic and compelling quest to become the oldest major championship winner.“I did say to aoc levelinghim coming down 18 that I was sorry it wasn’t his story that was going to be told this evening,” Harrington, 36, said of Norman, whose two-stroke overnight lead quickly evaporated after he bogeyed the first three holes. “I did feel that, but I wanted to win myself. In this EverQuest 2 goldgame you have to take your chances when you get them.“But it would have been a fantastic story. Greg has been a great champion through the game, and you know, another win at this time in his career would have been the icing on the eq2 platcake.”For Norman, who had not played any competitive golf since May and had not led a major championship since the 1996 Masters, it would have been more than that. Turning back the clock more each day during the turbulent week, Norman had emerged as the sentimental favorite. An Maple Story Mesosopportunity to erase the memory of past major championship failures maplestory Mesos with one history-making victory resonated with the fans.He came tantalizingly close to doing it. Even after he relinquished the lead with four bogeys in the first six holes, Norman Maple Story mesoregained it after Harrington bogeyed three straight — missing 8-footers for par at Nos. 7 and 8 and a 5-footer at No. 9. But Norman promptly bogeyed the 10th hole, lipped out a birdie putt at the 11th and an 8-footer for par at the 12th, and bogeyed the 13th. When Harrington birdied the 499-yard 13th in spectacular fashion, he had reassumed control with a three-stroke lead over Norman, who never threatened again.“Obviously I’m disappointed,” said Norman, frowning for the first time in what had been a magical week. “That would be an understatement if I didn’t say I was disappointed. But it maplestory meso was a tough day today.”It was for many in the field, including some of the pre-tournament favorites. Sergio García, last year’s runner-up and the betting favorite, shot 78 and tied for 51st. Camilo Villegas, who vaulted into second place on Friday with a 65, closed with a 76 and tied for 39th. The howling winds made Royal Birkdale, a 7,173-yard, par-70 course, play to a stroke average of 74.9 for the week. And they were back in force Sunday, when Norman hit only five fairways, one on the front and four on the back, and just five greens.Harrington Final Fantasy XI gil ignored the cold, played in short sleeves, and caught fire on the back nine, shooting a 32 that closed and locked the door on potential contenders.He also ignored the sore right wrist that made his even playing in the Open questionable as late as Wednesday.“It was great distraction for me,” Harrington said. “There’s no question having a wrist injury pushed everything about coming back to defend to the side. ………. |
