The Open / Joe Dyer / 20 July 2008 /

Champion backed at [150.0] during opening day struggles but roars back for back-to-back Open wins

On Thursday morning the talk was whether Padraig Harrington would participate, on Sunday night it was of a second consecutive Open victory - one that was backed at a top price of [150.0] on Betfair.

Amidst talk of a serious wrist injury, Harrington stood on the first tee as a [70.0] shot - a far cry from the general [20.0] that was available on the exchange in the tournament build-up and a long distance from the [15.0] with the high street bookmakers.

And when the champion bogeyed the first hole, the layers were swift to offer [150.0], believing he would not be able to compete for the cherished trophy.

That talk now seems far away with the Claret Jug back in Harrington's possession again for another year.

For a time it looked as though Ian Poulter would make a stunning final day charge and the Englishman was matched at a low of [1.91] in the excitement, but a poor finish did for him.

And the fairytale ending, of course, did not come for Greg Norman. Matched at [1000.0] pre-tournament, the 53-year-old former world number one could not make the dream come true for his backers at that price.

He was, however, backed at [190.0] for a top-five finish, which in anyone's books counts as some upset.

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