Padraig Harrington’s 4-under-par 32 on the back nine Sunday gave him back-to-back British Open wins and ended Greg Norman’s amazing run.
Norman, 53, who hadn’t participated in the last 11 majors and had played only 15 competive rounds this year, held a two-shot lead heading into Sunday.
But a closing 77 dropped Norman to a tie for third and gave him an all-too-familiar feeling in the final round of a major.
“I’m not as disappointed as I was in the ’80s and ’90s. That’s for sure,” Norman said after his 23rd finish from second place to sixth in majors. “It’s a different disappointment. Of course you want to close it out. But at the same time you’ve got to take a little stock of the situation.”
Norman led by a shot over Harrington entering Sunday’s back nine before Harrington posted two birdies and an eagle.
Denver Post wire services
