Wow What A Finish To The Open

I promised myself I would get up at 3.00 am and watch the end of The Open. My wife thinks I am mad but I so wanted someone fresh to win (secretly though if one of the more established players was to sneak in I was hoping it would be Ernie - an old time favourite of mine).
Am I glad I did get up. By the time I sat down in front of the TV the front nine was history and there was Anders Romero (where the h#*@ did he come from?) up with the leaders. Steve Stricker had all but disappeared and my mate Padraig was in the mix. And suddenly there was old Ernie. I thought "here we go the boys going to do it, he's going to show these guys how experience helps in these majors".
I was literally glued to the screen and in all that time I didn't even get up to make myself a coffee. I didn't need it to keep awake.
Romero played some incredible golf. One minute he looked liked the most experienced player out there and the next he looked like a nervous rookie. He made 10 birdies! Ten birdies - that's more than one every other hole and that in the final round of The Open on a course that was not very happy handing out birdies all week never mind 10 to one player in the final round.
But it was not to be his day. It all proved too much for him as he dropped too many shots on the last two holes. It was high drama and who would have thought that within half an hour he would be completely out of mind - despite being the leader in the clubhouse after Ernie had also failed to complete his challenge? It was all terribly exciting but nothing compared with what was still to come.
Padraig Harrington was quietly going about his business and with two holes to go was well in the lead. All he needed was a 4,4 finish and then he could sit back and wait for Sergio to try and match or beat him. But oh no that was all to boring for the Gods that control this game, more excitement needed here for the paying patrons.
Why not add a little bit of drama and get the gladiators to actually come face to face despite being on different holes? So they got Padraig to push his drive (yes he used a driver too!) on 18 over to the 17th fairway where Sergio was about to play. Bounce the ball on the bridge and pretend it is going to bounce right along and through the bridge but just let it take one bad hop at the end and finish up in the drink. Now we will have Padraig waiting at the very bridge where Sergio Garcia must cross after playing his tee shot. They actually almost crossed over the bridge headed in opposite directions and didn't even glance at each other. What were there thoughts I wonder?
Drama not over - oh no. Sergio puts his second close and has a relatively easy (if there is such a thing at Carnoustie) birdie putt. Padraig in the meanwhile takes an age to decide what he is going to do. Mores the pity as I am sure he could have fluffed it in half the time he took. My heart was in my throat as he dropped his third shot in the burn (water) in front of the green. His now lying 4 and not yet on the green. Sergio misses his birdie putt on the 17th which would have made him level with Padraig. So Padraig must up and down to at least force Sergio to play the hole.
He eventually plays his chip and although good it is by no means a tap in 6. A good putt and in she goes and he is leader in the club house but now one behind Garcia who has yet to play the 18th.
Sergio takes an iron off the tee and although he finishes in the fairway he is a long way from the green (and there's that water in front!). To be The Open Champion he only has to make a par - 10 minutes before and he needed a birdie. How things change.
Sergio plays his second, I think they said a three iron, it clears the water but comes up short in the bunker. On an up slope at the front of the bunker - its not over yet. He is a great bunker player and puts it about 6 feet from the hole. The Championship rests on this putt, but if he misses he allows Padraig into a 4 hole play off. The tension in my lounge with just me was almost unbearable I cannot imagine what it was like around the 18th green at Carnoustie!
Sergio hits what looks like a perfect putt - but somehow it stays out. One of several putts that lipped out on the day. It happened to everyone including Harrington on the 16th.
So now it was down to a 4 hole play off and another hour before I could get back into bed!
The playoff was a bit of an anti-climax compared to the drama that had gone before.
The first hole was to be the first play off hole followed by the 16th, 17th and 18th.
Both players had good tee shots, Padraig on the fairway and Sergio just off. Padraig plays his second and hits it stiff - still a bit of work to do on the putt but he should make it. Sergio in the meanwhile again comes up short and has to settle for a bogey. Padraig makes his birdie and they head off to the next tee with him 2 shots up. It stayed that way until the 18th where Padraig played with discretion knowing that a bogey from him would mean Sergio needed a birdie to stay alive. Sergio had to take a driver and all went according to plan. Sergio was on in two, Padraig in three and all Padraig needed was a two putt whilst Sergio had to make his. Padraig hit it about 3 feet past, and Sergio once again missed by the proverbial hair and went about 4 foot past. Sergio makes his coming back for a four and Padraig has to miss to keep the Spaniard alive.
Both the Gods and I had had enough and thankfully Padraig finished it off. A new Open Champion and the first European in many a year (I think since 1999). He was also the first Irishman in 60 years to win The Open.
An interesting side note. One of the commentators asked what Padraig would be thinking before his playoff putt on the 18th (the first putt). He said would he be thinking "just don't three putt"? The reply was "No that is not what he would be thinking as his psychology coach would not allow him to think those sort of thoughts".
An interesting observation and something I mention in my article "The Power Of Negative Thinking".