SOUTHPORT (England), July 21: Padraig Harrington, playing one of the best rounds of his life, defied strong gusting winds to complete a successful British Open title defence with a commanding four-shot victory on Sunday.

After duelling for supremacy with overnight leader Greg Norman on the front nine, Irishman Harrington broke clear of the pack with birdies on 13 and 15 to tighten his grip on the coveted Claret Jug.

In glorious late afternoon sunshine at Royal Birkdale, the 36-year-old struck a majestic second shot with a five-wood to just three feet at the par-five 17th, setting up an eagle to put the championship beyond the reach of his rivals.

Harrington, whose title defence was in doubt at the start of the event because of an injury to his right wrist, parred the last for a one-under 69, a three-over tally of 283 and his second major victory.

Britain’s Ian Poulter, helped by three birdies in the last 10 holes, also signed off with a 69 to secure second place at seven over, his best finish in golf’s grand slam events.

Australian Norman, bidding to become the oldest major champion at 53, had to settle for a tie for third at nine over after squandering a two-shot overnight lead and a one-stroke advantage with nine holes remaining.

The former world No 1 bogeyed his first three holes en route to a 77.

Level with Norman was Swede Henrik Stenson (71).

With the wind gusting up to 72-kph (45-mph), Harrington took advantage of playing partner Norman’s stumbling start to forge two clear after six holes.

The Irishman made his first bogey of the day at the par-three seventh where he pulled his tee shot into the gallery left of the green from where he failed to get up and down.

He also faltered at the eighth, missing a par putt from four feet, and the ninth, where he missed a 10-footer, to trail Norman by one.

However Norman dropped his fifth shot of the round at the 10th to rejoin Harrington in a tie for the lead before they were joined by Poulter, who coaxed in a 15-foot birdie putt on 16.

Norman’s bid for one of the most remarkable achievements in sport began to fade as he bogeyed 12 and 13 before Harrington again regained control and signed off with a par at the last to emulate Tiger Woods, in 2006, with back-to-back Open titles.

Final round scores:

283 – Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 74, 68, 72, 69.

287 – Ian Poulter (Britain) 72, 71, 75, 69.

289 – Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 76, 72, 70, 71; Greg Norman (Australia) 70, 70, 72, 77.

290 – Jim Furyk (US) 71, 71, 77, 71; Chris Wood (Britain) 75, 70, 73, 72.

292 – David Howell (Britain) 76, 71, 78, 67; Robert Karlsson (Sweden) 75, 73, 75, 69; Ernie Els (South Africa) 80, 69, 74, 69; Paul Casey (Britain) 78, 71, 73, 70; Stephen Ames (Canada) 73, 70, 78, 71; Steve Stricker (US) 77, 71, 71, 73; Robert Allenby (Australia) 69, 73, 76, 74; Anthony Kim (US) 72, 74, 71, 75; Ben Curtis (US) 78, 69, 70, 75.

293 – Adam Scott (Australia) 70, 74, 77, 72; Justin Leonard (US) 77, 70, 73, 73; K.J. Choi (South Korea) 72, 67, 75, 79.

294 – Jean Van de Velde (France) 73, 71, 80, 70; Gregory Havret (France) 71, 75, 77, 71; Paul Waring (Britain) 73, 74, 76, 71; Phil Mickelson (US) 79, 68, 76, 71; Graeme McDowell (Britain) 69, 73, 80, 72; Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) 71, 72, 79, 72; Thomas Sherreard (Britain) 77, 69, 76, 72; Trevor Immelman (South Africa) 74, 74, 73, 73; Anders Hansen (Denmark) 78, 68, 74, 74; Davis Love III (US) 75, 74, 70, 75; Rocco Mediate (US) 69, 73, 76, 76; Alexander Noren (Sweden) 72, 70, 75, 77; Simon Wakefield (Britain) 71, 74, 70, 79.

295 – Richard Green (Australia) 76, 72, 76, 71; Andres Romero (Argentina) 77, 72, 74, 72; Nick O’Hern (Australia) 74, 75, 74, 72; Heath Slocum (US) 73, 76, 74, 72; Tom Lehman (US) 74, 73, 73, 75; Todd Hamilton (US) 74, 74, 72, 75; Retief Goosen (South Africa) 71, 75, 73, 76.

296 – Thomas Aiken (South Africa) 75, 71, 82, 68; David Duval (US) 73, 69, 83, 71; Ariel Canete (Argentina) 78, 71, 76, 71; Gregory Bourdy (France) 74, 74, 75, 73; Jay Williamson (US) 73, 72, 77, 74; Woody Austin (US) 76, 72, 74, 74; Bart Bryant (US) 70, 78, 74, 74; Mike Weir (Canada) 71, 76, 74, 75; Camilo Villegas (Colombia) 76, 65, 79, 76; Simon Khan (Britain) 77, 72, 71, 76; Graeme Storm (Britain) 76, 70, 72, 78; Ross Fisher (Britain) 72, 74, 71, 79.

297 – Anthony Wall (Britain) 71, 73, 81, 72; Michael Campbell (New Zealand) 75, 74, 74, 74; Stuart Appleby (Australia) 72, 71, 79, 75; Doug Labelle II (US) 78, 70, 74, 75; Zach Johnson (US) 73, 72, 76, 76; David Frost (South Africa) 75, 73, 73, 76; Sergio Garcia (Spain) 72, 73, 74, 78.

298 – Richard Finch (Britain) 75, 73, 78, 72; Tom Gillis (US) 74, 72, 79, 73; Kevin Stadler (US) 72, 75, 78, 73; Scott Verplank (US) 77, 67, 78, 76; Colin Montgomerie (Britain) 73, 75, 74, 76; Peter Hanson (Sweden) 71, 72, 78, 77.

299 – Liang Wenchong (China) 77, 71, 77, 74; Jonathan Lomas (Britain) 75, 73, 76, 75; Soren Hansen (Denmark) 75, 69, 77, 78.

300 – Lee Westwood (Britain) 75, 74, 78, 73; David Horsey (Britain) 74, 70, 79, 77; Jean Baptiste Gonnet (France) 75, 72, 73, 80.

301 – Brendan Jones (Australia) 74, 73, 83, 71; Justin Rose (Britain) 74, 72, 82, 73; Martin Wiegele (Austria) 75, 74, 78, 74; John Rollins (US) 73, 75, 77, 76; Craig Parry (Australia) 77, 70, 77, 77; Jose-Filipe Lima (Portugal) 73, 76, 75, 77; Jeff Overton (US) 72, 75, 75, 79; Pablo Larrazabal (Spain) 75, 74, 73, 79.

302 – Lucas Glover (US) 78, 71, 77, 76; Nick Dougherty (Britain) 75, 71, 79, 77.

303 – Martin Kaymer (Germany) 75, 72, 79, 77.

304 – Phillip Archer (Britain) 75, 74, 78, 77.

306 – Sean O’Hair (US) 75, 73, 80, 78.

311 – Lam Chih Bing (Singapore) 72, 75, 83, 81.

—Reuters