Musings: Harrington repeats as Open champion

Padraig Harrington has nothing to apologize for. Yes, he won a Tiger-less major championship, and yes, he denied golf fans a great story — another Open win for 53-year-old Greg Norman.

But Harrington is writing a compelling narrative of his own, one that now includes back-to-back wins in golf’s oldest championship, both of which displayed his uncommon grit and determination.

For the second consecutive major, the champion played heroically through an injury to a major joint. Harrington battled an injured wrist that put any thoughts of a title defense in serious jeopardy.

But even Harrington seemed to know that he was sharing the spotlight. After his often-brilliant final-round 69 gave him a four-shot win over a hard-charging Ian Poulter, Harrington’s thoughts went to the 54-hole leader. Norman’s turn-back-the-clock performance made him the focus of one of the great sentimental stories in golf history — his improbable quest for a third Claret Jug at an age when he should be either counting his money or off playing in the 3M Championship with the R.W. Eaks and Gary Hallbergs of the world.

“I did say to (Norman) coming down 18 that I was sorry it wasn't his story that was going to be told,” Harrington said. “I did feel that, but I wanted to win myself. In this game, you have to take your chances when you get them.”

It was a chance that Harrington wasn’t sure he would have. After injuring his wrist more than a week ago, Harrington gave himself no better than a 50 percent chance of even finishing the golf tournament, much less winning it.

“(The injury) was a great distraction for me,” Harrington said. “It took a lot of pressure off me. It took a lot of stress off me. The fact that I didn't play three practice rounds like normal for a major was a big bonus. I was very fresh going into the weekend, and this 36 holes was a real battle.”

A battle with an unlikely opponent. Norman, whose relationship with new bride Chris Evert has led him to focus more on tennis than golf of late, earned more than sympathy for another major meltdown — he earned a whole new measure of respect.

“I walk away from here disappointed, but with my head held high, because I hung in there,” Norman said after a final-round 77 left him at 9-over and tied for third with Henrik Stenson.

Norman had a front-row seat for Harrington’s stirring 69 that included a tournament-clinching eagle on the par-5 17th hole at windswept Royal Birkdale.

“Padraig played brilliantly today, even though he tried to let it get away in the middle of the round,” Norman said. “He came back and performed brilliantly, and he finished like a true champion.”

And not the weekend’s only true champion.

Back-to-Back

With his win Sunday, Padraig Harrington becomes the 16th player to win the Open Championship in consecutive years, and only the fifth since the Open’s modern era that began when Arnold Palmer starting playing for the Claret Jug.

No Lead Is Safe

It’s the story of his star-crossed career. Greg Norman is now one-for-eight when leading a major after 54 holes.

A staggering 25 times in his career, Norman has entered the final round within five shots of the lead. He’s won two.

Els Bells

Ernie Els’ Jekyll-and-Hyde season was encapsulated at Royal Birkdale. After an opening-round 80 put him in danger of missing another cut, Els played 2-over golf for the final three rounds, including a final-round 69, one of only six rounds in the 60s on Sunday.

“At least I managed to break par twice,” he said. “I look forward to the next major. I'm doing quite a few things right. I'm hitting the ball OK and although I'm not holing a lot, I'm starting to feel I'm getting back to my old routine, my old stroke.”

Vindicated

Kenny Perry took plenty of heat for skipping the British Open in favor of the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee (well-deserved heat, in my opinion). Nevertheless, Perry feels vindicated by his performance; he shot a final-round 64 to finish tied for sixth.

"I accomplished my goal," Perry said. "I wanted to top 10 it. I told my people, I told my friends. I said, 'If I can just go there and have a good top 10, I've accomplished my mission."

Perry said he preferred to be in the Milwaukee heat sweating through shirts in familiar surroundings, rather than embarrassing himself on a tough links course that isn’t built for his game.

Whatever.

Rules Are Rules

Golf is known for abiding by a treasured, if occasionally arcane, set of rules and regulations. Sometimes, though, a little common sense needs to come into play.

After spending the last few years becoming an object of ridicule, Michelle Wie was on the verge of regaining her credibility and reputation as a golf prodigy. She finished the third round only one shot out of the lead at the LPGA’s State Farm Classic, only to be informed that she had been disqualified for failing to sign her scorecard before leaving the scoring area on Friday.

Gimme a break. It’s not as though Wie had sneaked off after changing a 4 to a 3. She wasn’t cheating. She hadn’t tampered with the game’s integrity. She simply wandered off, as teens are prone to do.

And where were the officials? Don’t they bear a little responsibility in making sure the scoring area is monitored to prevent such a mistake?

For once, sympathy and public opinion belong on Wie’s side.

“She was one shot off the lead, she was going to help boost the ratings,” said Christina Kim. “She was the player to beat this week.”

“Bottom line, we are held accountable to maintaining our scorecards and making sure that we attest the scorecard,” Kim said. “But it's such a shame.”

Had Wie won or finished second, it almost certainly would have given her enough earnings to qualify her for the Tour in 2009.