British Open: Ranking the 25 most dominant performances of all time
By Bill Felber
5. Padraig Harrington, 2008, -3.26
With Tiger Woods sidelined by the leg injury that had made his U.S. Open championship so memorable just one month earlier, the tournament seemed wide open. In reality, Woods’ absence only left the field open for the defending British Open champion, Padraig Harrington.
Unlike his playoff victory over Sergio Garcia a year earlier, Harrington this time displayed his dominance. In so doing he became the first European to successfully defend his championship since James Braid more than a century earlier.
For most of the tournament, that outcome was uncertain. Strong winds put the emphasis on links experience, a trait that favored 53-year-old Greg Norman, who led Harrington and K.J. Choi by two through three rounds.
Norman’s dream expired in a rash of mistakes on Sunday, opening the door to Harrington. His bogeys on each of the first three holes opened a window for the defending champion to briefly move in front, and although Norman regained a stroke advantage at the turn three more back nine bogeys sank his hopes.
When Harrington birdied the 13th he moved two clear of Ian Poulter, with Norman and Henrik Stenson three behind. A birdie at the 15th extended his advantage to three, and he secured the victory with a 249-yard 5-wood to within three feet of the cup at 17 for an eagle.
His final margin over Poulter was four strokes.