Harrington Wins 2nd Straight Brit Open

Irishman beats out Poulter after bogeys blow Norman's lead
By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 20, 2008 1:20 PM CDT
Harrington Wins 2nd Straight Brit Open
Padraig Harrington of Ireland holds the trophy after winning the British Open Golf championship, at the Royal Birkdale golf course, Southport, England, Sunday, July 20, 2008.    (Ass)

Padraig Harrington won his second British Open in a row today, beating out Ian Poulter by four strokes to shoot a final round of 1-under 69 for a three-over total of 283. Greg Norman—the 53-year old Aussie poised to become the oldest major champion in the history of golf—started the windy day at Royal Birkdale with a 2-stroke lead, but ended up tied for third after a series of early bogeys.

Ireland's Harrington wasn't expected to win after suffering a wrist injury last week that limited his practice shots to just 9 holes, the AP reports. But he clinched his victory with an eagle on the par-five 17th, where England's darling Poulter three-putted for par. "Winning a second one sets you apart," Harrington told the BBC. "There are less people in that club." (More British Open stories.)

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