2008 Open Championship

2008 Open Championship
Tournament information
Dates 17–20 July 2008
Location Southport, England
Course(s) Royal Birkdale Golf Club
Tour(s) European Tour
PGA Tour
Japan Golf Tour
Statistics
Par 70[1]
Length 7,173 yards (6,559 m)[1]
Field 156 players, 83 after cut[1]
Cut 149 (+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
Republic of Ireland Pádraig Harrington
283 (+3)
«2007
2009»
Royal Birkdale Golf Club
Location in England
Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, Merseyside,
north of Liverpool, England

The 2008 Open Championship was the 137th Open Championship, played 17–20 July at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, England. Pádraig Harrington of Ireland successfully defended his Open Championship title for his second Open title. Harrington shot four under par on the back nine in the final round to finish four strokes ahead of Ian Poulter of 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.

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 quaified from an earlier category:[3]

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,[4] Toru Taniguchi withdrew prior to start of tournament with a back injury[5])

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[6][7])

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[8])

20. First place on the 2007 Asian Tour Order of Merit
Liang Wen-Chong

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 Hebert (a)

International Final Qualifying

Africa: Joshua 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

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

Alternates

Past champions in the field

Made the cut

Player Country Year(s) won R1 R2 R3 R4 Total To par Finish
Pádraig Harrington  Ireland 2007 74 68 72 69 283 +3 1
Greg Norman  Australia 1986, 1993 70 70 72 77 289 +9 T3
Ben Curtis  United States 2003 78 69 70 75 292 +12 T7
Ernie Els  South Africa 2002 80 69 74 69 292 +12 T7
Justin Leonard  United States 1997 77 70 73 73 293 +13 T16
Todd Hamilton  United States 2004 74 74 72 75 295 +15 T32
Tom Lehman  United States 1996 74 73 73 75 295 +15 T32
David Duval  United States 2001 73 69 83 71 296 +16 T39

Missed the cut

Player Country Year(s) won R1 R2 Total To par
Paul Lawrie  Scotland 1999 77 73 150 +10
Tom Watson  United States 1975, 1977,
1980, 1982, 1983 		74 76 150 +10
Mark Calcavecchia  United States 1989 76 75 151 +11
Mark O'Meara  United States 1998 74 77 151 +11
John Daly  United States 1995 80 89 169 +29
Sandy Lyle  Scotland 1985 – – WD

Course layout

The 2008 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club
Tee Rating/Slope 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Out 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 In Total
Yardage n/a 4504214512013464991784574143417 40843618449920154443957247337567,173
Par 4 4 4 3 4 4 3 4 4 34 4 4 3 4 3 5 4 5 4 36 70

Lengths of the course for previous Opens (since 1950):[1]

  • 1998: 7,018 yards (6,417 m), par 70
  • 1991: 6,940 yards (6,350 m), par 70
  • 1983: 6,968 yards (6,372 m), par 71
  • 1976: 7,001 yards (6,402 m), par 72
  • 1971: 7,080 yards (6,470 m), par 73
  • 1965: 7,037 yards (6,435 m), par 73
  • 1961: 6,844 yards (6,258 m), par 72[9]
  • 1954: 6,867 yards (6,279 m)

Round summaries

The Open Championship is played over four days with an 18-hole round played each day, for a total of 72 holes plus practice rounds. Everyone outside the top 70 and ties is "cut" after 36 holes.

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

83 golfers made the cut at 149 (+9), including Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson, who played in the terrible morning conditions of day 1.

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), Hebert (+12), Blizard (+15), Saxton (+17).

Third round

Saturday, 19 July 2008

Greg Norman became the oldest golfer ever to hold at least a share of the 54-hole lead (a record which would last just one year, as the 59-year-old Tom Watson led after three rounds in 2009). Due to extremely high winds, no one shot under par for the round, 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.[10] Harrington pulled away from the field with a tremendous back nine and became only the fifth golfer to repeat at the Open Championship in the last fifty years. Greg Norman, who was attempting to become the oldest major champion ever, faltered with a final round 77 to finish in a tie for third place with Henrik Stenson. Ian Poulter attempted to become the first Englishman to win the Open since Nick Faldo, but finished in second, four strokes behind Harrington.[11]

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo parMoney (£)
1 Pádraig Harrington  Ireland 74-68-72-69=283 +3750,000
2 Ian Poulter  England 72-71-75-69=287 +7450,000
T3 Greg Norman  Australia 70-70-72-77=289 +9255,000
Henrik Stenson  Sweden 76-72-70-71=289
T5 Jim Furyk  United States 71-71-77-71=290 +10180,000
Chris Wood (a)  England 75-70-73-72=290 0
T7 Robert Allenby  Australia 69-73-76-74=292 +1296,450
Stephen Ames Trinidad and Tobago
 Canada		 73-70-78-71=292
Paul Casey  England 78-71-73-70=292
Ben Curtis  United States 78-69-70-75=292
Ernie Els  South Africa 80-69-74-69=292
David Howell  England 76-71-78-67=292
Robert Karlsson  Sweden 75-73-75-69=292
Anthony Kim United States 72-74-71-75=292
Steve Stricker United States 77-71-71-73=292

Amateurs: Wood (+10), Sherreard (+14).

(a) - amateur

Scorecard

Final round

Hole123456789101112131415161718
Par444344344 443435454
Republic of Ireland Harrington +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +5 +6 +7 +7 +7 +7 +6 +6 +5 +5 +3 +3
England Poulter +9 +9 +10 +10 +10 +10 +10 +10 +9 +9 +8 +8 +8 +8 +8 +7 +7 +7
Australia Norman +3 +4 +5 +5 +5 +6 +6 +6 +6 +7 +7 +8 +9 +9 +8 +8 +8 +9
Sweden Stenson +9 +9 +9 +9 +9 +10 +10 +10 +9 +9 +9 +9 +9 +10 +9 +9 +8 +9
United States Furyk +10 +11 +11 +11 +11 +11 +11 +11 +11 +11 +11 +11 +11 +11 +10 +10 +10 +10
England Wood +8 +8 +9 +9 +9 +9 +8 +8 +7 +7 +8 +9 +10 +10 +10 +10 +9 +10
South Korea 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
Source:[12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "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
  3. ↑ "Exempt Players". OpenGolf. Archived from the original on 11 July 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2008.
  4. 1 2 Donald out of British Open with wrist injury
  5. 1 2 Slocum's prayers answered with Taniguchi's withdrawal
  6. ↑ Kenny Perry facing criticism for skipping British Open
  7. 1 2 Field for the British Open
  8. 1 2 Kelly gets spot in British Open after Toms withdraws
  9. ↑ "Palmer takes British crown". Eugene Register-Guard. Associated Press. 16 July 1961. p. 1B.
  10. ↑ "Shark tanks, Padraig defends Open title". Retrieved 21 July 2008.
  11. ↑ Hodgetts, Rob (20 July 2008). "Brilliant Harrington retains Open". BBC News. Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
  12. ↑ "British Open Championship". ESPN. Retrieved 10 August 2015.

External links

Preceded by
2008 U.S. Open		 Major Championships Succeeded by
2008 PGA Championship

Coordinates: 53°37′19″N 3°01′59″W / 53.622°N 3.033°W / 53.622; -3.033

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