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Harrington: Successful defence

Padraig Harrington shot a final round of 69 to pull off a successful defence of his Open Championship title at Royal Birkdale on Sunday.

The Dubliner, who finished on three-over, produced an inspired run over the closing holes of the back nine to end with a four-shot winning margin over Ian Poulter.

The duo had been tied for the lead on seven-over as Harrington prepared to play his final six holes.

However, the 36-year-old produced birdies at 13 and 15 and a magnificent eagle at 17 to ultimately end as a comfortable winner and the first first-time winner to successfully defend the Claret Jug since Lee Trevino in 1972.

Overnight leader Greg Norman shot a final round of 77 to finish in a tie for third with Henrik Stenson (71) on nine-over, while Jim Furyk and amateur Chris Wood finished in joint fifth place one stroke further adrift, with Wood picking up the silver medal as leading amateur after his fabulous performance.

Although the winds that had battered Birkdale all week were again in evidence, conditions were a good deal more favourable than on Saturday, although there were still plenty of high scores to be found.

The likes of Paul Casey (70), Ernie Els (69), Robert Karlsson (69) and David Howell (67) proved that low scores were possible though with all four men finishing as part of nine-man group in a tie for seventh on +12.

Poor start for Norman

Leading by two, and bidding to become the oldest-ever major champion, all eyes were on Norman at the start of the day, although the 53-year-old endured a miserable start with bogeys at his first three holes to hand the initiative to playing partner Harrington.

The Dubliner opened up with six straight pars to assume the lead by the third, but then came unstuck as he headed for the turn with three straight bogeys of his own at seven, eight and nine ensuring it was Norman who held a one-shot lead as they turned for home.

Two-over after three, Poulter's challenge the began to materialise as he birdied nine and eleven to move right into contention.

Indeed, bidding to become the first English winner since Nick Faldo's triumph at Muirfield in 1992, Poulter looked to be the man with the momentum as he drained a 15-footer for another birdie at 16 to move level with Harrington as Norman fell off the pace with bogeys at ten, 12 and 13.

However, the Englishman's charge came rather unstuck at the generous par-five 17th where, after a disappointing three-putt, he had to settle for par.

He did then go on to hole a brave 10-footer for par at 18 to set the clubhouse lead on seven-over, but by then Harrington looked the man most likely after an excellent birdie at 13.

He gave himself breathing space as two solid strikes at the par-five 15th set up a two-putt birdie that moved him two clear of his closest rival.

Decisive eagle

If Poulter was hoping for a repeat of Harrington's nervy finish at Carnoustie 12 months ago, he was to be disappointed as his rival all but sealed victory with arguably the shot of the week at the 17th.

Harrington raked a fairway wood fully 270 yards with his ball skipping on to, and then up the green, leaving an eagle putt of no more than five feet.

He duly knocked it home to raucous cheers, all but ending tournament as a contest, leaving him with a four-shot lead as he headed to the final tee.

Laughing and smiling, there were no signals that Harrington was feeling any sort of pressure and after an immaculate drive and a second that left 12 foot for birdie it became clear that he had pulled off a successful defence of his title in some style.

While the birdie putt refused to drop at 18, it mattered not as he tapped home to secure his second major crown and a win that, after the reports of a wrist injury, had seemed largely improbable at the start of the week.