The British Open Golf Championship - Final Day
The British Open Golf Championship Final Day
Venue - Carnoustie, Scotland
Televised - BBC 1, commentators Peter Alyess & Sam Torrence.
So the scene was set early with a nast downpour of rain. WOuld this make it easier for Sergio Garcia to maintain his three shot lead as it surely would make it difficult for anyone to make a charge. In reality, the conditions did not have a huge negative effect, and a magnificent final day was in store.
The bar was set by a fine round of 64 by Andrew green of Australia. He had a score of -5 par and set the standard everyone else still out on the course. The big American names in the frame failed to fire today. Jim Furyk never got going, Steve Stricker had many chances but his putting let him down on as many as four occasions. Tiger Woods, aiming for his third straight title, has to settle for a dissappointing score of -2 for the four days.
Garcia too had a dissappointing day, dropping back to -6. He was caught by Padrig Harrington of Ireland and the ever dangerous South African Ernie Els. Els later hoever lost another shot towards the and his challenge fell away.
A major suprise was in the offing when Argentinian Andreas Romero, a man who only had played four tournaments outside South America before this, went on a late charge and took the lead going -9 after 16 holes. His inexperience however got the better of him down the final strectch losing 3 shots and finishin with -6. At that moment Garcia birdied the 15th to go -7 and Harrington landed a birdie at 17 to go -9.
Harrington went down the 18th 2 shots ahead. However, he pulled his tea shot into the water, then hit his next shot into the water too, losing two shots in the process. He recovered however to get up and down for a double bogey, a good result in the circumstances. He therefore finished on -7, to add to the drama, Garcia birdied the 17th to go -8. Was Harrington's disaster on 18 going to cost him the title.
As it happened no it wasn't. Garcia missed a 10 foot put on the 18th and dropped a shot, so he too finished -7. This would send us into a playoff between Harrington and Garcia. We had a slight delay a this point as the playoff would be over four holes, the 1st, 16th, 17th and 18th. However they could not find a flag for the first hole for around 10 minutes, eventually this arrived via a man on a golf cart, to ironic cheers of the crowd.
Harrington drew first blood in the playoff. He birdied the 1st and Garcia could only bogey to give Harrington a two shot lead. Both men parred the next two holes sending them down the 18th with a two shot difference. Harrington played safe on 18, laying up his second shot leaving 90 ards to the green after two. Garcia played a fine second shot out of the light rough to give himself a long birdie chance.
Harrington pitched onto the green but he too was some distance away. Harrington putted to within 6 feet with his first attempt. Harrington now could do no better than bogey, so if Garcia managed to birdie his long range put he would at least tie. He missed however and the put went passed 4 feet. Garcia putted out for par, leaving Harrington with a six foot put for bogey to maintain a one shot lead and land the title. He duely sank the put to become the first Irishman in 60 years to take the British open golf title.
RESULT - FINAL LEADERBOARD - British Open 2007
Harrington (Ire) -7
Garcia (Spa) -7
Romero (Arg) -6
Els (SA) -5
Green (Aus) -5
