Harrington retains British Open in style

(CNN) -- Irishman Padraig Harrington successfully defended his British Open title at Royal Birkdale on Sunday, carding a final round of 69 for a three-over total of 283 to beat England's Ian Poulter by four strokes.

A sensational second shot on the par-five 17th sealed Harrington's victory as he retained the famous Claret Jug he won in a four-hole playoff against Sergio Garcia at Carnoustie last year.

Veteran Australian Greg Norman, the overnight leader, finished tied for third with Henrik Stenson of Sweden, five strokes behind Harrington after a final round of 77.

Harrington's superb one-under-par round, on another windswept day on the Lancashire coast, meant he becamse the first European to defend the title since James Braid in 1906.

Poulter covered the last 10 holes in three-under-par despite winds gusting up to 35mph, holing from 15-feet for par on the 18th to set what looked a daunting clubhouse target of seven-over-par.

That left Harrington needing to cover the last four holes in level par, but the 36-year-old Dubliner -- doubtful before the start of the tournament with an injury to his right wrist -- put the result beyond doubt with a birdie on the 15th and an eagle from just four feet on the 17th to seal a memorable triumph.

The £750,000 ($1.5 million) first prize secures Harrington's place in the Ryder Cup in September and takes him from 14th to a career-high third in the world rankings.

Harrington trailed Norman by two shots at the start of the day but was one ahead after just three holes as the 53-year-old Australian -- looking to become the oldest ever major winner by five years -- began with a hat-trick of bogeys.

Another bogey on the sixth meant Harrington was two clear, but the Ryder Cup star then stumbled with three straight bogeys of his own to fall one behind his playing partner at the turn.

As Norman continued to struggle it was Poulter who emerged as Harrington's biggest rival, birdies at the ninth and 11th taking him within a shot of the lead.

The 32-year-old crucially missed from four-feet for another birdie on the 13th however and, after a birdie putt on the 16th dropped in on its last roll, three-putted the par-five 17th for par.

As that happened Harrington holed from 18-feet for a birdie on the 13th to take the outright lead again, a lead he was never to lose.

Harrington paid tribute to physio Dale Richardson who treated his wrist injury, and also the fans who braved the terrible conditions over the four days.

"After my double bogey on the 12th yesterday a guy leaned over and tapped my shoulder and said, 'Don't worry about it, I've got to go back to plumbing on Monday,"' Harrington said.

"And today I was walking by the same gentleman a couple of times and he said, 'Go on Paddy, you're a Scouser now!"'

"I've had a great time, I've had fantastic support from everybody here. The only person I forgot to thank last year was Dale, he worked double time this week. I was stressed over my wrist injury, but he was very calm and relaxed. He knew he could get it right -- and he did."

Harrington added: "With a two-shot lead you are not comfortable but with a four-shot lead I knew I had it won. "It was just a case of playing out in style. Very few people have won back-to-back majors -- it's a new level for me."

For Norman, it was the seventh time in his career that he had led a major tournament at the start of the final round but failed to win, the only exception being when he won the first of his two Open titles in 1986.

"It was a good week for me," said Norman. "I'm disappointed for sure but at the end of the day, Padraig did a tremendous job and he is a deserving champion."