It's all in Padraig Harrington's hands

Sunday, July 20, 2008 12:57 pm (Eastern)

By Sal Johnson

Stick a fork into Norman, Ian Poulter gets close but will it be enough?

So I guess we can stick a fork into Greg Norman, again it's sad that he will again be remembered for a player that has a great three round record at the majors but can't seem to get the job done in the final round.

Photo: © Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images Padraig Harrington has had a very steady round today.

Since we lasted posted a lot has happened. First Simon Wakefield has woken up and realized that he was at the British Open and is four over on the back nine, he has dropped back to 11 over. Nice to see that amateur Chris Wood is hanging in there, he is T4th with Norman at 9 over par. After bogeys at 11, 12 and 13 he has bounced back a bit with a birdie at 17. After to root hard for the kid if he can keep it up and finish in the top-four, those players get invites to the 2008 Masters. That would be a great thing for the 20 year-old. Unfortunately Wood bogey 18 and he is T5th and is going to have to get some help from Greg Norman to get a trip to Augusta next April.

How about Jim Furyk, he is at 10 over shooting 71 today and you have to wonder if he isn't kicking himself for his 43 on the back nine yesterday. Just to think if he could have been even par he would be at 3 over and leading by a bunch, oh well he can only dream. My pool guy Anthony Kim will also be kicking himself because he is at 10 over par and despite being the leader in greens hit, he is almost last in putting, that has been his downfall.

Photo: © Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images This picture tells the story on Greg Norman's day

One person sneaking up the leaderboard is Henrik Stenson, remember him from winning the Accenture Match Play last year. We haven't seen much from him but he is 2 under for the day and with a hole left he could give Harrington something to think about.

Now as we said, Norman has played himself out of this championship, he has been terrible just making another bogey at 12. For the day he has made no birdies and seven bogeys and it's not a great way of ending a career. Sorry to say this but his legacy will be not being able to bring home the goods.

Now for Ian Poulter, he shot a 69 and is in the clubhouse at 7 over. For him he has to kick himself for three-putting 17, if he loses that hole will be the reason. Still Poulter did make a bomb from about 15 feet at 18 so I guess things average out. Poulter has said a lot of things, he is a very cocky guy and the press are very mixed on liking and disliking him.

But let's be real on all of this, the Open is in the hands of Padraig Harrington. He is 1 over for the day and 5 over for the week. He has really been steady all day. He has done just what is needed, with his birdie at 15 he has a little breathing room for the final stretch.


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