Padraig Harrington, playing one of the best rounds of his life, defied strong gusting winds to complete a successful British Open title defense with a commanding four-shot victory on Sunday. After dueling for supremacy with overnight leader Greg Norman on the front nine, Irishman Harrington broke clear of the pack with birdies on 13 and 15 to tighten his grip on the coveted Claret Jug. In glorious late afternoon sunshine at Royal Birkdale, the 36-year-old struck a majestic second shot with a five-wood to just three feet at the par-five 17th, setting up an eagle to put the championship beyond the reach of his rivals. Harrington, whose title defense was in doubt at the start of the event because of an injury to his right wrist, parred the last for a one-under 69, a three-over tally of 283 and his second major victory. “I really felt good out there,” a beaming Harrington told reporters after covering the back nine in a four-under 32. “Very few people have won back-to-back majors. Coming into this week I was trying to play that down but winning a second one does set you apart. There are less people in that club. “It was a fantastic experience coming down the 18th knowing I had won the Open,” added the Dubliner, who will rise to a career-high third in the world rankings on Monday. Britain's Ian Poulter, helped by three birdies in the last 10 holes, also signed off with a 69 to secure second place at seven over, his best finish in golf's grand slam events. Australian Norman, bidding to become the oldest major champion at 53, had to settle for a tie for third at nine over after squandering a two-shot overnight lead and a one-stroke advantage with nine holes remaining. The former world number one bogeyed his first three holes en route to a 77. “Obviously I'm disappointed,” said Norman. “That would be an understatement if I didn't say I was disappointed. But it was a tough day today.” Level with Norman was Swede Henrik Stenson (71). With the wind gusting up to 72-kph (45-mph), Harrington took advantage of playing partner Norman's stumbling start to forge two clear after six holes. The Irishman made his first bogey of the day at the par-three seventh where he pulled his tee shot into the gallery left of the green from where he failed to get up and down. He also faltered at the eighth, missing a par putt from four feet, and the ninth, where he missed a 10-footer, to trail Norman by one. However Norman dropped his fifth shot of the round at the 10th to rejoin Harrington in a tie for the lead before they were joined by Poulter, who coaxed in a 15-foot birdie putt on 16. Norman's bid for one of the most remarkable achievements in sport began to fade as he bogeyed 12 and 13 before Harrington again regained control. The Irishman, who won last year's title at Carnoustie in a playoff with Sergio Garcia, struck a superb five-iron approach to 15 feet at the 13th and sank the putt to edge one ahead. Another birdie followed at the par-five 15th where Harrington reached the fringe of the green in two and two-putted to double his lead, prompting a celebratory fist pump. After parring 16, he eagled 17 with one of the best shots of the championship before signing off with a par at the last to emulate Tiger Woods, in 2006, with back-to-back Open titles. Wie disqualified After finishing Friday and Saturday in second place at the State Farm Classic, Michelle Wie was one good round away from finally living up to her deep potential. Then, minutes after tapping in her last putt of the third round, Wie sat red-eyed at a folding table in front of baffled reporters and photographers, explaining why she'd been disqualified from the tournament. The 18-year-old, playing her best golf of the year, broke one of the game's most basic rules: She failed to sign her scorecard before leaving the scoring area. “I don't know why or how it happened,” Wie said. That left Yani Tseng leading the tournament at 18-under, followed by Katie Futcher at 16-under and Hee-Won Han and Ji Young Oh another shot back. Australians share lead Australians Gavin Coles and Nick Flanagan, both gunning for a first US PGA Tour win, shared the lead going into Sunday's final round of the US Bank Championship in Milwaukee. Coles shot 68 and Flanagan registered a one-under-par 69 in Saturday's third round. Canadian Jon Mills fired a 64 for 200, a total he shared with Sweden's Richard Johnson (70), the overnight co-leader, and Americans George McNeill (66) and Ken Duke (68). – Reuters __
