Harry Open

Some critics believed that this would have been a makeshift Open, no one could have been judged as, arguably, the best golfer ever to live Tiger Woods was not going to make an appearance. Knee injury or not, Tiger would have certainly struggled in the horrendous conditions.

But to be fair, who cares?

It was a test, more than a test, it was virtually impossible and I could not believe ex-Open champion Sandy Lyle just gave up so easily. Professional or not, a record 201,000 people watched the Open from the edges of greens and the grandstand.

It was superb to see Padraig Harrington to triumph once again completing back to back on wins. The first time a European has achieved that feat since 1906.

Complaining of a wrist injury on the lead up, it was almost likely that Harrington was going to pull out on Wednesday evening he conjured up some much needed inner strength to pull out an astonishing victory.

On Sunday, it was inevitable that there was only going one winner as everyone teed off. It was dazzling to see the Great White Shark Greg Norman holding the clubhouse lead on Saturday evening. However, it was courageous Harrington to get on top on the last day and the blinding eagle on the seventh gave him a four shot lead going into the last hole.

Even after last year’s chaos finish, he was not going to throw a four shot lead.

It was good to see that four of the top six was from Europe and only one from America as the Ryder Cup beckons.

The 137^th Open will be constantly remembered for the wild, undesirable weather and its pure drama. The player of the tournament was without a doubt Greg Norman as he performed sensationally as he took his foot of the pedal on the last day and finished tied third. The 53 year old mocked the rest of the field as he played this as a warm up to the Senior Open. Having played little golf this year, he played without care and worry and managed to play better than a host of golfers that filled the field did.

Chris Wood certainly gave his future credentials no harm as he performed extraordinary to win the silver medal as an amateur. Playing in such conditions would not have been the ideal circumstances with the weather, but Wood played with such maturity and did not look out of place surrounded by professional golfers. He managed a really high-quality four rounds and received a high amount of gratitude in the way he refused to go professional and gave up on his £180,000 check.

The 20 year old proved that he was not fluke as he grinded out four decent rounds and performed more professionally and more adequately than Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood, and Sergio Garcia, whom all struggled considerably. Definitely one for the future, following the Justin Rose path would not be frowned upon as he currently sits in the world top ten.

Rose struggled, finishing tied 70^th, as much talk was aimed at him as ten years ago he came joint fourth with a sublime chip as amateur to be earmarked as one of the future.

Ian Poulter finished a decent second with a 69 on the last day, as he wants to prove his worth and possibly get into that Ryder Cup team.

Nevertheless, this was the story of Harrington and how he obtained the Claret Jug once again. Let us hope he keeps his whiskey firmly sealed in it this time.