Ireland's Padraig Harrington booked a return ticket to Bermuda yesterday with a second successive victory in the British Open, golf's third major of the year.

The win ensured his spot in the PGA's Grand Slam of Golf to be held at Mid Ocean Club later this year, the 36-hole end-of-season tournament designed to bring together the winners of the game's four majors.

World number one Tiger Woods, who missed the 2007 event, has already pulled out of this year's tournament due to injury despite winning the US Open, with his replacement yet to be announced.

But Harrington, who was beaten by Argentina's Angel Cabrera in a play-off at Mid Ocean last October in a tournament that also featured Zach Johnson and Jim Furyk, now joins South African Trevor Immelman who won the Masters in April.

The final place in the $1.35 million Slam will be secured by the winner of the US PGA Championships next month.

Harrington yesterday became the first European in 102 years to capture consecutive titles at golf's oldest major championship.

The 36-year-old shot one-under par at a windswept Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport to finish at three-over, playing in the final pairing with sentimental favourite Greg Norman who, at 53 years old, was bidding to become the oldest ever major champion. The Australian finished in a tie for third at nine-over-par.

England's Ian Poulter finished second, his best British Open finish, at seven-over after a one-under-par 69 in the final round.

Scotland's James Braid in 1906 was the last back-to-back European winner of the Open. Tiger Woods in 2006 was the last player to successfully defend his title at the tournament.

High winds off the Irish Sea on Saturday that reached 48 miles per hour prevented any player from breaking par at a major for the first time since the final round of the 2004 US Open at Shinnecock Hills.

Yesterday, in only slightly less difficult conditions, only five players shot under par.

Full British Open reports

– see Pages 30 and 31