Home > Teed Off > Archives > 2008 > July > 20 > Entry
The Open: Final Round
12:22 p.m. — A year ago, Harrington finished his 72nd hole and then waited to see what Sergio would do. Sergio missed a 15-foot par putt on the 18th that would’ve won his first major. Then Harrington won the four-hole playoff.
This time around, Harrington will walk tall down the 18th fairway as a man who dominated down the stretch at Royal Birkdale.
12:13 p.m. — “An amazing shot by Harrington,” exclaimed Mike Tirico. Yes it was … And that pretty much wraps it up. Harrington has a 5-foot look at eagle and a four stroke lead with one hole to play.
12:09 p.m. — Harrington can cruise to his second straight title. It’s hard to imagine him not at least making par on the par-5 17th. Then a bogey or better on 18 will wrap it up.
Perhaps not many American golf fans would put Harrington at the top of the list of the world’s best. I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t watched in person as he claimed The Open Championship and lifted the Claret Jug last July at Carnoustie.
But winning two Opens in a row, that’s heroic stuff.
11:40 a.m. — Plenty of Englishmen waved their hands in the air as Poulter sunk his par putt on 18 to become the leader in the clubhouse at 7-over.
But my money is still on the Irishman.
11:06 a.m. — Suddenly, it doesn’t look very much like The Shark will become the oldest golfer ever to win a major championship. Not with Ian Poulter fist pumping and primed to post 7-over or better and Norman trying to hold on while at 8-over.
10:47 a.m. — So Jim Furyk is the leader in the clubhouse at 10-over. Normally, a golfer finishing his round four three strokes off the pace wouldn’t seem all that significant, but with wind blowing so strong that it’s moving the ball on the green, well, Furyk will be an interested spectator as he sits in the comfort of the clubhouse. So 10-over is quite the enviable position.
10:24 a.m. — So they go to the 10th at Royal Birkdale, The Shark leading by a stroke after he made a par at No. 9 while Padraig Harrington suffered his third straight bogey.
A word on history, Norman was known for years and years as a great player who couldn’t seize a major championship on the back nine on Sunday. Meanwhile, Padraig (pronounced Porridge by the Scottish incidentally) claimed The Open at Carnoustie last year by surviving craziness down the stretch, then defeating Sergio Garcia in a playoff.
If The Open Champioship takes a back seat to The Masters and The U.S. Open here in the U.S.A. (it certainly doesn’t in the rest of the world), it might be because it hits the air at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday morning. It’s 10:15 a.m. and your friendly neighborhood golf blogger is just starting his craft. Need I say more?
Nevertheless, a great story has unfolded over the last three days and we’re seeing the final few chapters today as Greg Norman tries to win his third major championship and first in 15 years at age 53.
Comments