Another Treat: Harrington Wins the Open Championship

Folks it appears that great golf doesn't necessarily need one key ingredient (Tiger). As long as everyone takes their role seriously, the great theater and drama will unfold as it certainly did at the 137th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

When all was said and done it was Padraig Harrington who won his second consecutive British Open Championship by firing a four day total of 3 over par, 4 strokes better than Ian Poulter, and 6 stokes better than Greg Norman and Henrik Stenson. The leaderboard may have read a 4 stroke victory, the tournament was much, much closer than that. Harrington made some seriously clutch shots down the stretch into winds that reached up to 40 mph.

Greg Norman, still on his honeymoon, held the lead at the turn but faltered a bit on the back nine with a balky putter as Harrington began to charge.

The story of the entire weekend was Norman and his spectacular play. There is no way you can categorize his squandered lead as another major lost in the final round. He made the shots that 98% of the tour couldn't and that's without practice. However, with his 3rd place finish, he now has to practice because he secured a spot in the Masters next year. Not only was this not a squandered lead, this was a statement that Norman can still bring it. The magic lasted about 65 holes but Harrington made ridiculous shots that no one could have competed with.

Speaking of those shots, they're going to be talked about for years to come. Given the circumstances, the conditions, and the setting of the oldest Major, they were unbelievable. Pars were difficult to come by and Ian Poulter made a late charge forcing Harrington to go low. With only a one shot lead over Poulter and standing in the 15th fairway, Harrington hit a 3 wood into the wind and landed on the green of the monster par 5. He two putted from 40 feet for birdie to give him a 2 shot lead, which is certainly not safe with the way the winds were howling.

That's when Harrington hit the shot of the decade. He had a 2 shot lead heading to the 17th which was basically the only hole that was down wind. The 17th is a 570 yard par 5 which was the scoring hole for the week and Harrington did just that. He hit a 3 wood off the tee and into the fairway while Norman hit driver past him and just into the first cut. His next shot was the most clutch shot given the magnitude of the situation, considering Norman could make eagle and still be in the match. While standing a mere 27o yards away, he hit a 5 wood that landed just over a huge bunker, rolled onto the green, over a ridge and stopped 4 feet from the cup. He made the putt for eagle and enjoyed the walk up the 18th fairway. Norman missed the green, landing in a pot bunker, got out and 2 putted for par. Harrington hit the fairway on 18 and stuck the green just past the pin. The pressure was off at that point but he still hit an awesome shot. He 2 putted for the win.

That 5 wood should be talked about for years to come. He barely carried the bunker and had he landed in it, it's a whole different story. It was a ridiculously hard shot and he made it look like a simple wedge.

The classy Harrington waited for Norman to walk with him to the 18th green and take part in the ovation, which was equally for both. Harrington even told Norman he was sorry that his story wasn't going to be told. Of course he wanted to win, as you can bet so did The Shark. Harrington went on to praise Norman for being a gentlemen the entire round, regardless of good shots or bad, he was a perfect model of how you're supposed to behave on the golf course.

So our annoying voiced Irishman becomes only the 5th player in the last 50 years to win back to back Open Championships and he deserved it. He mentioned he was sorry for the story to not be Greg Norman's but no apology was necessary. The story is and will be Greg Norman's, and it will also be Padraig Harrington's. Norman didn't lose the tournament, Harrington won it. In fact you could make a good case that The Shark made Harrington win the tournament.

After witnessing a disappointing Masters for the 2nd year in a row, the 2 following majors more than made up for it. This one had everything, again. Drama, stories, theater, weather, tradition, and ultimately the appropriate winner.

Padraig Harrington captures the Claret Jug, wins the gold medal, and, (this is the greatest title ever), is The Champion Golfer of the Year.