2008 Open Championship

The 2008 Open Championship was a men's major golf championship and the 137th Open Championship, played from 17–20 July at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. Pádraig Harrington successfully defended his Open Championship title, his second; he shot four under par over the final nine holes and was four strokes ahead of runner-up Ian Poulter.[3] Harrington was the last golfer to win the same major back-to-back for a decade until Brooks Koepka won consecutive U.S. Opens in 2017 and 2018.

2008 Open Championship
Tournament information
Dates17–20 July 2008
LocationSouthport, England
Course(s)Royal Birkdale Golf Club
Organized byThe R&A
Tour(s)European Tour
PGA Tour
Japan Golf Tour
Statistics
Par70[1]
Length7,173 yards (6,559 m)[1]
Field156 players, 83 after cut[1]
Cut149 (+9)[1]
Prize fund£4,200,000[2]
€5,335,867
$8,161,174
Winner's share£750,000
€938,565
$1,498,875
Champion
Pádraig Harrington
283 (+3)
Southport
Location in England
 Royal Birkdale
 Golf Club
Location in Southport, Merseyside,
north of Liverpool, England

Television coverage was provided as usual by the BBC in the UK, and by ABC and TNT in the United States.

Field

World Number One Tiger Woods was the most notable absentee, as he was recovering from knee surgery following his victory at the U.S. Open.

About two-thirds of the field each year consists of players that are fully exempt from qualifying for the Open. Below is the list of the exemption categories and the players who are exempt. Each player is classified according to the first category by which he qualified, but other categories are shown in parentheses. Some categories are not shown as all players in that category had already qualified from an earlier category:[4]

1. First 10 and anyone tying for 10th place in the 2007 Open Championship
K. J. Choi (7,15,19), Stewart Cink (7,19), Ben Curtis (3,4), Ernie Els (3,4,5,7,15,19), Sergio García (5,7,14,15), Richard Green, Pádraig Harrington (3,4,5,7), Hunter Mahan (7,15,19), Andrés Romero (5,7), Steve Stricker (7,15,19), Mike Weir (7,19)

2. Past Open Champions born between 20 July 1942 and 19 July 1948
(Eligible but not competing: Tony Jacklin, Johnny Miller, Tom Weiskopf)

3. Past Open Champions aged 60 or under on 20 July 2008
Mark Calcavecchia (15), John Daly, David Duval (4), Todd Hamilton (4), Paul Lawrie (4), Tom Lehman, Justin Leonard (7), Sandy Lyle, Greg Norman, Mark O'Meara (4), Tom Watson (28)
(Eligible but not competing: Ian Baker-Finch, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Nick Price, Bill Rogers, Tiger Woods)

4. The Open Champions for 1998-2007

5. First 20 in the PGA European Tour Final Order of Merit for 2007
Ángel Cabrera (7,11,19), Paul Casey (7), Nick Dougherty, Niclas Fasth (7), Retief Goosen (7,11,19), Anders Hansen (6), Søren Hansen (7), Peter Hanson, Grégory Havret, Søren Kjeldsen, Colin Montgomerie, Justin Rose (7,15), Henrik Stenson (7), Richard Sterne (7), Graeme Storm, Lee Westwood (7)

6. The BMW PGA Championship winners for 2006-2008
David Howell, Miguel Ángel Jiménez (7)

7. The first 50 players on the Official World Golf Rankings for Week 21, 2008
Robert Allenby, Stephen Ames (14), Stuart Appleby (19), Woody Austin (15,19), Aaron Baddeley (15), Tim Clark, Jim Furyk (15,19,23), J. B. Holmes, Trevor Immelman (12,19), Zach Johnson (12,15,19), Robert Karlsson, Martin Kaymer, Anthony Kim, Phil Mickelson (12,13,14,15,19), Geoff Ogilvy (11,15,19), Sean O'Hair, Rod Pampling, Ian Poulter, Jeff Quinney, Rory Sabbatini (15,19), Adam Scott (15,19), Vijay Singh (13,15,19), Brandt Snedeker (15), Scott Verplank (15,19), Boo Weekley, Oliver Wilson
(Eligible but not competing: Shingo Katayama, Luke Donald withdrew prior to start of tournament with a wrist injury,[5] Toru Taniguchi withdrew prior to start of tournament with a back injury[6])

8. First 3 and anyone tying for 3rd place, not exempt having applied above, in the top 20 of the 2008 PGA European Tour Order of Merit on completion of the 2008 BMW PGA Championship
Richard Finch, Graeme McDowell, Damien McGrane

9. First 2 European Tour members and any European Tour members tying for 2nd place, not exempt, in a cumulative money list taken from all official PGA European Tour events from OWGR Week 19 up to and including the Open de France and including the U.S. Open
Pablo Larrazábal, Scott Strange

10. The leading player, not exempt having applied above, in the first 5 and ties of each of the 2008 European Open and the 2008 Barclays Scottish Open.
David Frost, Simon Khan

11. The U.S. Open Champions for 2004-2008
Michael Campbell

12. The U.S. Masters Champions for 2004-2008

13. The U.S. PGA Champions for 2003-2007
(Eligible but not competing: Shaun Micheel)

14. The U.S. PGA Tour Players Champions for 2006-2008

15. Top 20 on the Official Money List of the 2007 PGA Tour
Charles Howell III (19)

16. First 3 and anyone tying for 3rd place, not exempt having applied above, in the top 20 of the Official Money List of the 2008 PGA Tour on completion of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
Bart Bryant, Ryuji Imada

17. First 2 PGA Tour members and any PGA Tour members tying for 2nd place, not exempt, in a cumulative money list taken from The Players Championship and the five PGA Tour events leading up to and including the 2008 AT&T National
Rocco Mediate
(Eligible but not competing: Kenny Perry[7][8])

18. The leading player, not exempt having applied above, in the first 5 and ties of each of the 2008 AT&T National and the 2008 John Deere Classic
Fredrik Jacobson, Jay Williamson

19. Playing members of the 2007 Presidents Cup teams
Lucas Glover, Nick O'Hern (David Toms withdrew prior to start of tournament[9])

20. First place on the 2007 Asian Tour Order of Merit
Liang Wenchong

21. First 2 on the Order of Merit of the PGA Tour of Australasia for 2007
Craig Parry, David Smail

22. First place on the Order of Merit of the Southern Africa Sunshine Tour for 2007
James Kingston

23. The RBC Canadian Open Champion for 2007

24. The Japan Open Champion for 2007

25. First 2 on the Official Money List of the Japan Golf Tour for 2007
Brendan Jones, Hideto Tanihara

26. The leading 4 players, not exempt, in the 2008 Mizuno Open Yomiuri Classic
Michio Matsumura, Prayad Marksaeng, Yoshinobu Tsukada, Azuma Yano

27. First 2 and anyone tying for 2nd place, not exempt having applied (26) above, in a cumulative money list taken from all official Japan Golf Tour events from the 2008 Japan PGA Championship up to and including the 2008 Mizuno Open Yomiuri Classic
Hiroshi Iwata, Shintaro Kai

28. The Senior British Open Champion for 2007

29. The 2008 Amateur Champion
Reinier Saxton (a)

30. The U.S. Amateur Champion for 2007
(Colt Knost turned professional and forfeited his invitation.)

31. The European Individual Amateur Champion for 2007
Benjamin Hébert (a)

International Final Qualifying

Africa: Josh Cunliffe, Darren Fichardt, Doug McGuigan, Hennie Otto
Australasia: Peter Fowler, Brad Lamb, Ewan Porter, Andrew Tampion
Asia: Adam Blyth, Danny Chia, Lam Chih Bing, Angelo Que
America: Craig Barlow, Rich Beem, Alex Čejka, Tom Gillis, Paul Goydos, Matt Kuchar, Doug LaBelle II, Michael Letzig, Davis Love III, Scott McCarron, Jeff Overton, Tim Petrovic, John Rollins, Kevin Stadler
Europe: Thomas Aiken, Phillip Archer, Peter Baker, Grégory Bourdy, Ariel Cañete, Simon Dyson, Pelle Edberg, Johan Edfors, Ross Fisher, Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, David Horsey, José-Filipe Lima, Alexander Norén, Simon Wakefield, Anthony Wall, Paul Waring, Steve Webster, Martin Wiegele

Local Final Qualifying (Monday 7 July and Tuesday 8 July)

Hillside: Rohan Blizard (a), Jamie Elson, Jean van de Velde, Chris Wood (a)
Southport and Ainsdale: Jon Bevan, Gary Boyd, Jamie Howarth, Tom Sherreard (a)
West Lancashire: Peter Appleyard, Barry Hume, Jonathan Lomas, Philip Walton

Alternates

Nationalities in the field
North America (46)South America (4)Europe (60)Oceania (21)Asia (13)Africa (12)
 Canada (2) Argentina (3) England (27) Australia (18) China (1) South Africa (12)
 United States (44) Colombia (1) Northern Ireland (1) Fiji (1) Japan (7)
 Scotland (5) New Zealand (2) Malaysia (1)
 Ireland (3) Philippines (1)
 Austria (1) Singapore (1)
 Denmark (3) South Korea (1)
 France (5) Thailand (1)
 Germany (2)
 Netherlands (1)
 Portugal (1)
 Spain (3)
 Sweden (8)

Past champions in the field

Made the cut
PlayerCountryYear(s) wonR1R2R3R4TotalTo parFinish
Pádraig Harrington Ireland200774687269283+31
Greg Norman Australia1986, 199370707277289+9T3
Ben Curtis United States200378697075292+12T7
Ernie Els South Africa200280697469292+12T7
Justin Leonard United States199777707373293+13T16
Todd Hamilton United States200474747275295+15T32
Tom Lehman United States199674737375295+15T32
David Duval United States200173698371296+16T39

Missed the cut
PlayerCountryYear(s) wonR1R2TotalTo par
Paul Lawrie Scotland19997773150+10
Tom Watson United States1975, 1977,
1980, 1982, 1983		7476150+10
Mark Calcavecchia United States19897675151+11
Mark O'Meara United States19987477151+11
John Daly United States19958089169+29
Sandy Lyle Scotland1985––WD
  • Sandy Lyle withdrew after ten holes of the first round when he was 11-over par at the time.
  • Tiger Woods (2000, 2005, 2006) was recuperating from knee surgery and did not compete.

Venue
Main article: Royal Birkdale Golf Club

Course layout
The 2008 Open Championship
Tee Rating/Slope 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Out 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 In Total
Yards n/a 4504214512013464991784574143417 40843618449920154443957247337567,173
Par 44434434434 4434354543670

Source:
Lengths of the course for previous Opens:[1]

Round summaries

First round

Thursday, 17 July 2008

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
T1Robert Allenby Australia69−1
Graeme McDowell Northern Ireland
Rocco Mediate United States
T4Bart Bryant United States70E
Greg Norman Australia
Adam Scott Australia
T7Jim Furyk United States71+1
Retief Goosen South Africa
Peter Hanson Sweden
Grégory Havret France
Fredrik Jacobson Sweden
Simon Wakefield England
Anthony Wall England
Mike Weir Canada

Second round

Friday, 18 July 2008

The cut was at 149 (+9) and 83 advanced, including Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson, who played in the terrible morning conditions in the first round.

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
1K. J. Choi South Korea72-67=139−1
2Greg Norman Australia70-70=140E
3Camilo Villegas Colombia76-65=141+1
T4Robert Allenby Australia69-73=142+2
David Duval United States73-69=142
Jim Furyk United States71-71=142
Pádraig Harrington Ireland74-68=142
Graeme McDowell Northern Ireland69-73=142
Rocco Mediate United States69-73=142
Alexander Norén Sweden72-70=142

Amateurs: Wood (+5), Sherreard (+6), Hébert (+12), Blizard (+15), Saxton (+17).

Third round

Saturday, 19 July 2008

Greg Norman, age 53, became the oldest to hold at least a share of the 54-hole lead (it lasted just one year, as Tom Watson led after three rounds in 2009 at age 59). Due to extremely high winds, there were no under-par rounds, and it was first time since 1986 when the 54-hole leader was not under par.

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
1Greg Norman Australia70-70-72=212+2
T2K. J. Choi South Korea72-67-75=214+4
Pádraig Harrington Ireland74-68-72=214
4Simon Wakefield England71-74-70=215+5
T5Ben Curtis United States78-69-70=217+7
Ross Fisher England72-74-71=217
Anthony Kim United States72-74-71=217
Alexander Norén Sweden72-70-75=217
T9Robert Allenby Australia69-73-76=218+8
Rocco Mediate United States69-73-76=218
Ian Poulter England72-71-75=218
Henrik Stenson Sweden76-72-70=218
Graeme Storm England76-70-72=218
Chris Wood (a) England75-70-73=218

Final round

Sunday, 20 July 2008

Greg Norman at the 2008 Open Championship

Despite a wrist injury that almost forced him to withdraw prior to the tournament, Pádraig Harrington successfully defended his Open Championship title.[11] Harrington pulled away from the field with a tremendous back nine and became only the fifth to repeat at the Open in the last fifty years. Runner-up Ian Poulter matched Harrington's 69 and was four strokes back, while Greg Norman faltered with eight bogeys for 77 and tied for third place with Henrik Stenson.[12]

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo parMoney (£)
1Pádraig Harrington Ireland74-68-72-69=283+3750,000
2Ian Poulter England72-71-75-69=287+7450,000
T3Greg Norman Australia70-70-72-77=289+9255,000
Henrik Stenson Sweden76-72-70-71=289
T5Jim Furyk United States71-71-77-71=290+10180,000
Chris Wood (a) England75-70-73-72=2900
T7Robert Allenby Australia69-73-76-74=292+1296,450
Stephen Ames Trinidad and Tobago
 Canada		73-70-78-71=292
Paul Casey England78-71-73-70=292
Ben Curtis United States78-69-70-75=292
Ernie Els South Africa80-69-74-69=292
David Howell England76-71-78-67=292
Robert Karlsson Sweden75-73-75-69=292
Anthony Kim United States72-74-71-75=292
Steve Stricker United States77-71-71-73=292

Source:[13]
Amateurs: Wood (+10), Sherreard (+14).

Scorecard

Final round

Hole123456789101112131415161718
Par444344344443435454
Harrington+4+4+4+4+4+4+5+6+7+7+7+7+6+6+5+5+3+3
Poulter+9+9+10+10+10+10+10+10+9+9+8+8+8+8+8+7+7+7
Norman+3+4+5+5+5+6+6+6+6+7+7+8+9+9+8+8+8+9
Stenson+9+9+9+9+9+10+10+10+9+9+9+9+9+10+9+9+8+9
Furyk+10+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+10+10+10+10
Wood+8+8+9+9+9+9+8+8+7+7+8+9+10+10+10+10+9+10
Choi+5+5+5+6+7+8+9+10+10+10+11+11+11+11+11+10+9+13

Cumulative tournament scores, relative to par

Eagle Birdie Bogey Double bogey Triple bogey+

Source:[14]

References
  1. "Media guide". The Open Championship. 2011. pp. 21, 203. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  2. "British Open coverage on MSNBC". Archived from the original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 17 July 2008.
  3. "Luck of the Irish not necessary". Union-Democrat. (Sonora, California). Associated Press. 21 July 2008. p. B1.
  4. "Exempt Players". OpenGolf. Archived from the original on 11 July 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2008.
  5. "Donald out of British Open with wrist injury". Archived from the original on 13 July 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2008.
  6. Slocum's prayers answered with Taniguchi's withdrawal
  7. "Kenny Perry facing criticism for skipping British Open". Archived from the original on 13 July 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2008.
  8. Field for the British Open
  9. "Kelly gets spot in British Open after Toms withdraws". Archived from the original on 13 July 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2008.
  10. "Palmer takes British crown". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. 16 July 1961. p. 1B.
  11. "Shark tanks, Padraig defends Open title". Retrieved 21 July 2008.
  12. Hodgetts, Rob (20 July 2008). "Brilliant Harrington retains Open". BBC News. Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
  13. "2008 Open Championship". PGA of America. 20 July 2008. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  14. "British Open Championship". ESPN. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
Preceded by
2008 U.S. Open		 Major Championships Succeeded by
2008 PGA Championship

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