Even in his moment of triumph, as he took an utterly stress-free stroll on the 72nd hole at Royal Birkdale, Padraig Harrington knew he had interfered with a potentially historic sporting moment.

Harrington put his arm around Greg Norman, shook his hand and thanked him for his company the previous 4 1/2 hours. Then, moments from winning his second consecutive British Open title, Harrington consoled Norman much as Nick Faldo did 12 years earlier at Augusta National (albeit more gently).

"I told Greg I was sorry he wasn't going to have his story told tonight," Harrington said later. "It would have been a fantastic story."

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