Harrington repeats at British Open and ends Norman's dream

SOUTHPORT, England -- While the rest of the field wore layers, Padraig Harrington wore shirtsleeves at Royal Birkdale on Sunday. He has convinced himself that terrible conditions are inhospitable only for everyone else, turning himself into a sort of golfing Wall-E who eats up garbage (wind, rain, rough) and spits out pars.

But when he had to make a birdie, Harrington made two, and an eagle, going four-under on his last six holes to shoot 69 and win the 137th British Open by four strokes over Ian Poulter (69). The Irishman is the first European to repeat as Open champ since James Braid of Scotland won in 1905-06. Before Tiger Woods won in 2005-06, no one had gone back-to-back since Tom Watson in '82 and '83. In all, 16 players have defended their titles since the first Open was played in 1860.

"This year is more satisfying," said Harrington. "You know, to go out there and shoot 69 in that last round, I don't think -- if you had offered it to me last night I certainly would have taken it. It's the first time that I was in the last group of a major tournament on Sunday. So it's a different pressure, it's a different stress, and I'm delighted I managed it."

Harrington finished three over par for the tournament and earned $1.5 million for the victory.

Greg Norman (77) and Henrik Stenson (71) tied for third place at nine over, while low American Jim Furyk (71) and the English amateur Chris Wood (72) were another shot back at 10 over.

Norman, 53, sat on a two-shot lead going into Sunday, but he never looked comfortable on this fourth straight day of strong winds. Trying to become the oldest major championship winner ever, he bogeyed his first three holes to give up the lead.

Harrington returned the favor with his own three bogeys on holes seven through nine, but again Norman couldn't get the ball in play.

He drove way left of the fairway and bogeyed 10, and his par putt horseshoed around the hole to bogey 12. He hit into trouble on 13, finding the cross bunkers with an iron off the tee. He had to chip out sideways and made another bogey.

"Oh, shades of Troon," Peter Alliss said gravely on the BBC, referring to Norman's playoff loss to Mark Calcavecchia in the 1989 British Open, which also involved a drive that found a bunker.

Harrington made pars on 10, 11 and 12 before his decisive run.