Padraig Harrington is the winner of the 2007 British Open

After the Open Championship went into a playoff, everyone was asking who won the 2007 British Open, and the winner is Padraig Harrington.

Padraig Harrington is the winner of the 2007 British Open Padraig Harrington won the 2007 British Open in a playoff with Sergio Garcia, beating the Spaniard by two shots at the play-off. But both golfers could consider themselves winners, with great game, will to win and leaving famous players such as Tiger Woods and Ernie Els far behind them. Great payday for the savvy bettors who had placed bets on Padraig Harrington - he was listed by the online bookmaker Bodog Sports at 25/1 to win the 2007 British Open.

The golfers had to replay the 1st, 16th, 17th and 18th holes to find out which one had the skills and who will handle the pressure better. An early two-shot lead by Padraig Harrington at the playoff, made him the winner of the 2007 British open.

The playoff

1st hole - Padraig Harrington stepped into an immediate two-shot lead at the first hole of the play-off. With Sergio Garcia in the bunker to the right, the Irishman holed the birdie putt. Garcia was plugged under the face of the trap and came out 12 feet short of the hole. He two-putted from there to give Harrington the lead.

16th hole - Sergio Garcia had a chance for a birdie, but came up short with the putt to make par. Padraig Harrington remained two shots ahead after missing the green to the left, but he also made par at the16th.

17th hole - Padraig Harrington missed a chance to win the British open at the 17th, after Sergio Garcia's putt from 18 feet touched the hole but failed to drop and he gave Harrington the chance to go three shots ahead with only one hole left. But a five-foot putt by Harrington slipped left of the hole.

18th hole - The tension at the 18th was so intense, you could have cut it with a knife. Padraig Harrington was feeling the trophy in his hands, but if he did a bogey and Garcia shot a birdie, his win would have to be delayed or worse. Sergio Garcia knew it was not over - everything came down to the 18th. Garcia's putted shaved the hole but made the return, leaving Harrington an unwanted three-footer for the title. Padraig Harrington is the new Open champion.

How did they reach the playoff of the 2007 British Open

Sergio Garcia exhibited great golfing skills throughout the entire Open Championship, ending each day as the leader, until the Carnoustie caught up to him and five bogeys were shot at the final round. Garcia took the tournament lead early in day one, hitting sharp for a total of 7 birdies and only one bogey during the opening day.

Day two of the Open Championship was evened out by Sergio Garcia with 2 bogeys and 2 birdies. The Spaniard maintained in Day 3 with three birdies, but the final round saw him with three birdies and 5 bogeys, the last one on the 18th to take the final of the 2007 British Open to a playoff. The online bookmaker Bodog Sports had Sergio Garcia listed with odds on winning at 33/1 before the competition started.

Padraig Harrington did not show on the radar until the final day of the Open. Overall average game for the Irish golfer starting the Round 1 with three birdies and a bogey. In Day 2 of the British Open Harrington did only 2 birdies and 2 bogeys, plus a double bogey at the 18th. Day 3 was much better for the Irish and he climbed up with 4 birdies and only one bogey.

But the final day of the 2007 British Open was probably the best game Padraig Harrington has ever played. Four birdies at the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 11th were followed by an eagle at the 14th, and he became a real threat to Garcia. The 18th hole, however, once again proved hard to overtake by the Irish and a double bogey tied him with Sergio Garcia, which led to the playoff.

Published on 07/22/2007