Golf Central

Yeeeehaw. Greg Norman won...: No, he didn't.
Really? I thought he did?: Not sure where you got your information from, but it's wrong. Padraig Harrington did what he needed to...
Harrington? Didn't he win it last year?: Yep. He posted a final round 69 (one under) to finish three over for the tournament. Porridge is the first european golfer to win to back-to-back Opens since Harry Vardon in 1899. Not bad work from the Irishman when you think about it...
Not bad at all. So what happened?: Well, Padraig kept it calm all day and Norman made a meal of it really...
Go on...: The Aussie bogeyed his first three holes as well as three of the first four on the back nine. Harrington had a bit of a nervy front nine, but pulled it back together with a fabulous back nine that included two birdies and an unbelievable eagle on the 17th. Four under on the last six holes he was...
Four under? Eagle?: Tell me about it. That shot on the 17th - a cheeky 272 yard five wood from the fairway - to set up the eagle was ridiculous. The ball just jumped on to the green, hopped forward and curled towards the hole. When you play like he did on the back nine, you deserve to win the Open to be fair...
Indeed. Any tears from him like last year?: No. None whatsoever. He kept it together well...
Fair enough. Tiger would have won it had he been there...: Who knows?
Not me. So what of Norman?: Well, a few important putts didn't drop for him, but ultimately, he took the driver off the tee too many times and was left scrambling for par a lot. You're not going to win an Open with a final round of 77...
That's a massive shame, isn't it?: Yep.
So what else happened?: Well, Norman's 77 saw him drop down to tie third with Henrik Stenson, who carded a fine 71 to finish nine over par with the Aussie. Guess who got second place?
John Daly? Lee Westwood?: No.... our man Ian Poulter, that's who.
Really?: Yeah. Poults went on a final round rampage, holing birdie putts like there was no tomorrow. He could have made a few more, but Padraig won it as opposed to Poults losing it...
He'll will win a major eventually...: Yeah, no doubt about it.
So what else happened?: Well, Jim Furyk finished in a tie for fifth with English amateur Chris Wood. He's our new hero...
Why's that?: Well, not only did he shoot an awesome final round of 72 to take the silver medal, he looks the part as well. I'm talking killer sideburns, J.Lindeberg clobber and a Cantebury base layer...
He sounds like one cool cat. So, anything else to say?: Not really. There was a big group of players tied for seventh, including David Howell, Robert Karlsson, Ernie Els, Paul Casey and Anthony Kim.
Melon? Not bad for a kid who hasn't played links before..: You're not wrong there.
Ok, let's wrap this thing up. I've got to pick up the kids in a bit: Fair enough. Well, massive props to the R&A for making Royal Birkdale a truly great Open venue....
Yeah, gotta doff the hat to the R&A...: The weather was crap, but it turned out to be one of the most fascinating majors, let alone Opens, that IGWT has witnessed in a long time. In an ideal world Norman would have won it, but you can't take anything away from Padraig...
No, you can't. See you at Turnberry next year?: Can't wait...