Open Championship is a thrilling milestone

Jul 21 2008 Ben Schofield

A SPECTACULAR Open Championship at Royal Birkdale has cemented the region's status as a golf destination, tourism chiefs triumphantly declared yesterday.

Merseyside was the centre of the golf world last week as Ireland's Padraig Harrington romped around the Southport links to retain the Claret Jug.

And as the crowd figure exceeded 200,000, Birkdale hit a new course record.

Harrington is the first European to secure back-to-back Open wins since James Braid in 1906.

After receiving golf's most sought- after prize on the 18th green from club captain Dennis Watson, Harrington used his victory speech to heap praise on the North West crowd.

He said the comments he received along the fairways helped spur him on.

"One fella," he told the 40,000 fans who turned out to see him win by four shots, "patted me on the back and said 'go on Paddy, you're a Scouser now'.

“I'm delighted that I've managed it. I really felt good out there. It was a fantastic experience coming down the 18th and knowing I was winning."

Harrington also said one fan yelled to him when he was struggling and said "don't worry mate, next week I'm going back to plumbing".

That was Southport plumber Tony Stephenson, a 45-year-old father of two from Ainsdale. He told the Daily Post: "It was after his double bogey on the 12th and I was sitting by the 13th tee.

"I just thought I'd tell him that life's not that bad. I've got to go back to the grind and toil of it next week."

Mr Stephenson took the week off work to spend each day of the Championship at Birkdale. He introduced himself to Harrington in the media enclosure after the champion mentioned him in his speech.

He added: "He is a pure gent – down to earth.

"He just put his arm around me and let me hold the trophy. It made my day."

The world number 14 and father-of-two holed an eagle putt at the 17th and was par on the 18th to sign for a round of 69.

England's Ian Poulter returned to the clubhouse seven over for the four rounds and claimed the runner-up's silver salver.

Michael Brown, the chairman of organisers the Royal and Ancient (R&A), said Birkdale's ninth Open had tested the mettle of the players. He said: "Once again, it has proved to be a fitting test for the world's best.

‘In doing so, I particularly thank their course manager Chris Whittle and his team who have presented the course in quite superb condition which has been appreciated by the players all week."

Four tees were moved forward as winds of up to 45 miles per hour lashed the course. Play was never suspended although officials considered doing so.

The city region's tourist board, The Mersey Partnership (TMP), recorded near sellout hotel occupancy across Merseyside with the climax of the golf and the Tall Ships in Liverpool's docks.

TMP director of tourism Martin King said: "This weekend was always going to be one of the '08 highlights with events attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region.