How the day unfolded for Pádraig Harrington:

2.14pm

Greg Norman strides onto the first tee for the final round of the British Open. One minute later his playing partner and defending champion, Pádraig Harrington, arrives on the tee alongside his caddy, Ronan Flood, to equally huge roars from the galleries.

2.20pm

The official starter Ivor Robson introduces the final pairing. "This is match number 42, the final group of the 137th Open Championship. On the tee from Ireland, the defending champion, Pádraig Harrington." Cue huge cheers. Harrington lands on the fairway and rolls into the first cut of rough right. Norman also takes an iron and bisects the fairway.

2.35pm: Hole 1

Harrington's approach to the first comes up 30 yards short but the Dubliner gets up and down for par, while Norman finds the greenside bunker right. After splashing out, the Australian's 25-foot par putt lips out. It's first blood to Harrington as he reduces the deficit to one. (Norman +3, Harrington +4)

2.45pm: Hole 2

Harrington plays the par-four second in regulation, finding fairway and green followed by two putts up the hill from 30 feet for par. Norman, meanwhile, pulls his drive, misses the green and pitches up to five feet. His tentative putt slides left of the cup for a second successive bogey. Harrington and Norman share the Open lead on +4.

3.00pm: Hole 3

Harrington takes the outright lead as he records another par, while Norman's indifferent start continues. The Australian pulls his tee shot again, comes up short and pitches to eight feet. Harrington finds the greenside bunker short right with his approach, then almost holes his bunker shot but runs 12 feet past the cup. Harrington saves par as Norman's bogey run continues. (Harrington +4, Norman +5)

3.09pm: Hole 4

Harrington applies real pressure at the first short hole as his four-iron lands softly and rolls to within 10 feet. Norman also takes a four-iron and comes up 30 feet short on same line as Harrington. Both two-putt as Norman records his first par. (Harrington +4, Norman +5)

3.22pm: Hole 5

No change at the top as both front-runners record pars at the short, dogleg par four. Harrington plays a somewhat clumsy pitch long from the middle of the fairway and has to negotiate a difficult undulating downhill putt, which he does with ease. Norman plays another great knock-down links approach to the front edge but misses his uphill birdie effort. (Harrington +4, Norman +5)

3.37pm: Hole 6

Norman makes another error in course management as his driver finds thick rough on the left on the most difficult hole on the course. Harrington splits the fairway before finding the front edge of the green with a three-iron. Norman, meanwhile, has to use all his power to simply advance the ball into the semi-rough. Norman makes a courageous bogey as Harrington's steady course continues with another par to open up a two-shot lead. (Harrington +4, Norman +6)

3.49pm: Hole 7

Harrington makes first mistake of the day and takes bogey after pulling his five-iron long and left. Norman, also with five-iron, pulls his effort but not as severely. Harrington misses his par effort from eight feet, while Norman saves par from five feet. Huge roars as The Shark narrows the gap to one (Harrington +5, Norman +6)

4.06pm: Hole 8

A real chink in Harrington's armour emerges as the defending champion drops another shot after a weak par-saving effort misses from four feet. Norman's wayward driving continues but he gets a break on the left side before finding the green from 120 yards. Two putts later and the Australian is tied for the lead again as Harrington three-putts from the front edge. All of a sudden the chasing pack are back in contention. (Harrington +6, Norman +6)

4.26pm: Hole 9

After nine holes Harrington relinquishes the lead to his playing partner after a third bogey in a row. Another missed fairway causes another errant approach for Harrington, who fails to get up and down. Norman, on the other hand, regains his composure with a regulation par. Harrington goes out in 37 to Norman's 38. (Harrington +7, Norman +6)

4.39pm: Hole 10

Much deliberation as Harrington's ball moves on the green but after an R&A ruling - and no penalty - the Dubliner keeps his nerve to hole a tricky four-footer for par. Yet again Norman pulls his tee shot and narrowly avoids the gorse bushes. After a sling-shot second the Australian fails to get up and down for par as the lead is shared once again. The English pair of Ian Poulter and Simon Wakefield are just one shot behind. (Harrington +7, Norman +7)

4.53pm: Hole 11

Both players find the front of the 11th green in regulation but two-putt pars are more realistic than birdies in the strong winds. Harrington knocks it up to three feet and holes a solid putt for par, while Norman's birdie effort has a run at the hole and just lips out. Both players record pars at the same hole for only the third time in the round. And still no birdies. (Harrington +7, Norman +7)

5.01pm: Hole 12

It's all change as Harrington is joined at the top of the leaderboard by Ian Poulter, whose 20-foot birdie effort drops in via the side of the hole at the 16th. Norman makes another poor club selection, coming up short at the 179-yard par-three 12th, and fails to get up and down when he lips out for par. Harrington does well to two-putt for par from off the back of the green for par and looks to have settled well. (Harrington +7, Poulter +7, Norman +8)

5.18pm: Hole 13

Just as Ian Poulter misses a crucial opportunity by three-putting for par at the 17th, Harrington is busy securing his first birdie of the day at the 13th to take the outright lead. The defending champion splits the fairway from the tee then launches a five-iron into 12 feet from 235 yards and confidently holes out. Norman's race looks to be run as he makes bogey after finding a fairway bunker off the tee. (Harrington +6, Poulter +7, Norman +9)

5.36pm: Hole 14

Harrington looks more assured with every hole he plays and two-putts from 30 feet behind the hole for another par. Norman rolls in a par-saving putt from 25 feet to keep his slim hopes alive. Poulter, meanwhile, catches his approach to the 18th heavy to leave a very difficult pitch. He plays a pitch and run around the bunker to 15 feet left of the cup and nonchalantly holes for par (69) to set the clubhouse target of seven-over 287. Meanwhile, England's Chris Wood, playing alongside Poulter, secures the silver medal for leading amateur. (Harrington +6, Poulter +7, Norman +9)

5.48pm: Hole 15

Harrington and Norman have the rare distinction of both finding the fairway to set up an attack at the green on the par five. Harrington sneaks on to the front edge to leave a 50-foot eagle putt, while Norman pitches up to four feet and knocks in his first birdie of the day. Harrington rolls up to four feet and holes the clutch birdie putt to take a two-shot lead. (Harrington +5, Poulter +7, Norman +8)

6.03pm: Hole 16

The last hole into the wind before turning for home, Harrington and Norman begin making a habit of finding fairways. Harrington fires a seven-iron from 128 yards into the breeze and safely finds the putting surface - 20 feet short of the hole - just as Norman does with the same club. No birdie but another par safely negotiated for Harrington. Norman also makes par as Poulter takes to the driving range in case of a play-off. (Harrington +5, Poulter +7, Norman +8)

6.11pm: Hole 17

Shot of the week, no question. Harrington launches a fairway wood from 272 yards out after finding the middle of the fairway from the tee. In typically aggressive manner, he rides his approach on the wind off the left side as his ball pitches just over the bunker front left and rolls all the way up the undulating green to rest four feet behind the cup for an eagle chance. To a huge roar, Harrington duly holes out for his second eagle of the week at the 17th to hold a four-shot lead playing the last hole. (Harrington +3, Poulter +7, Norman +8)

6.23pm: Hole 18

Unlike this time 12 months ago at Carnoustie, Harrington has no problem finding the middle of the 18th fairway and can surely start to enjoy the finest walk in golf. Moments later, Harrington hits another breathtaking strike as his approach almost pitches into the hole. Both players savour the moment as Norman puts his arm around the champion elect. They share a private chuckle amid raucous applause.

6.36pm

Pádraig Harrington is the British Open champion for a second time. After hitting the fairway with his tee shot, the defending champion finds the green in spectacular fashion with his approach shot and taps in for par to win by four shots from Ian Poulter. Harrington has covered the back nine in a staggering four-under for a final-round 69 and three-over 283 winning aggregate. Norman (77) closes with a bogey to finish in a tie for third with Sweden's Henrik Stenson on nine over.