Harrington Wins Open Championship

For the second straight year Padraig Harrington will be the proud possessor of the Claret Jug and heralded as "Champion Golfer of the Year" after winning the 2008 Open Championship.

The Irishman carded a remarkable 1-under-par 69 in difficult, windy conditions at Royal Birkdale Golf Club. He finished at 3-over 283, four strokes ahead of England's Ian Poulter (69) and six over third-round leader Australia's Greg Norman (77) and Sweden's Henrik Stenson (71). Jim Furyk (71) was America's highest finisher after tying for fifth with amateur Chris Wood (72) of England.

The 36-year-old Harrington became the first back-to-back winner from Europe since Scotland's James Braid in 1906. Tiger Woods, who is home in Florida recuperating from surgery on his left knee, was the last player to successfully defend his Open title in 2006.

Harrington came into the championship in Southport, England, nursing a sore wrist, which limited his practice before the event commenced. But he somehow overcame the injury and prevailed in very trying circumstances. Harrington virtually cemented the victory with an eagle on the par-5 17th hole that gave him a four-shot lead before teeing off on the 72nd.

"Winning a second one sets you apart," Harrington said. "It is a new level to get to two majors. Definitely, there are less people in that club."

Like the previous three rounds, players had to overcome high winds of around 35 miles per hour. During Saturday's round winds off the Irish Sea clocked in at 50 miles per hour and, for the first time since the 2005 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, not one player broke par. On Sunday, five players were under par.

Despite his 7-over-par final round, the 53-year-old Norman acquitted himself well. The two-time British Open champion, in 1986 and 1993, started his final round with three straight bogeys and never recovered. After another bogey on the par-4 sixth, Norman parred his final three holes on the front nine but then lapsed with bogeys on three of the first four holes on the back.

So the day belonged to Harrington, who was greeted as he exited the final green by his wife and two children. "I'm quite enjoying this," Harrington said as he embraced the Claret Jug. "I don't think I'll get down off the stage."

He also expressed satisfaction in his strategy for the week. "I knew my game was there, but maybe this week I made the right decision at the right time, and got the right break at the right time," said Harrington, whose win moved him up to No. 3 in the world.