Padraig Harrington’s superb five wood to the 71st hole of the 137th Open Championship, the shot that ensured the Irishman would successfully defend his Open crown, has been awarded The European Tour Shot of the Month for July.
 
Harrington, who continued his Major Championship revolution by adding the US PGA Championship to his CV at Oakland Hills, went into the back nine during the final round at Royal Birkdale looking to defend the Claret Jug against the considerable challenges of Greg Norman and Ian Poulter.
 
Harrington was locked in battle with the Australian and the Englishman as the trio entered the final stretch, but elevated himself to the top of the leaderboard with brilliant birdies on the 13th and 15th holes before the piercing five wood approach to the par five 17th. It set up a sensational eagle that would ensure a second Open victory in the space of 12 months.
 
“It was a real bonus to finish three feet away. I would have been quite happy with it on the green and take my chances with two putts. But one it was three feet away I made sure I holed it. You can’t have enough of a lead going down the 18th in a Major.”
 
Ross Fisher’s holed bunker shot on the 72nd hole at The London Golf Club, which brought the curtain down on his seven stroke victory in The European Open, was voted second in the July Shot of the Month Award, while Norman’s dazzling chip shot during Saturday’s play in The Open – when the Australian made an outrageous up and down on the 18th to guarantee the third round lead – was voted third.
 
Previous European Tour Shot of the Month winners from 2008 are: South Africa’s Richard Sterne (January), New Zealand’s Mark Brown (February), the Northern Irish duo of Graeme McDowell (March) and Darren Clarke (April), England’s Richard Finch (May) and Martin Kaymer of Germany (June).
 
The European Tour Shot of the Month Award is presented to the Tour Member for the shot judged to be the most outstanding played during each calendar month on The European Tour International Schedule. The winning shots from each month are entered into The European Tour Shot of the Year Award.