Southport, England (Sports Network) - Padraig Harrington became the fifth player in the last 50 years to successfully defend his title at the British Open Championship on Sunday.

Harrington fired an outstanding, one-under 69 on Sunday to win his second major championship at three-over 283. He was an amazing four-under on his back nine when conditions intensified.

"When you shoot in the 60s in that sort of wind, you've got to pleased on a day like today," said Harrington. "I was real good today. I had my mind in the right place."

Ian Poulter put up a valiant fight, but came up short. The Englishman also posted a one-under 69 and took second place at seven-over-par 287.

Greg Norman's amazing run at becoming the oldest major champion ended on the back nine Sunday. The 53-year-old two-time former champion held the lead on the 10th tee, but four back-nine bogeys derailed his chances.

"I would have loved to have won, no kidding about that," said Norman, who has not won on the PGA Tour since 1997. "I know it was a good week. Can I walk away feeling down? Of course, I can. But can I walk away feeling pretty good? Yeah, I can do that as well."

Norman, who held the third-round lead, finished with a seven-over 77 and tied for third place with Henrik Stenson, who carded a one-over 71, at plus-nine.

Norman now gets an invitation back to the Masters next year for a top-four finish. The last time he held a 54-hole lead on tour was at Augusta in 1996, when he squandered a six-shot lead and lost by five to Nick Faldo.

The Australian rarely plays competitive golf anymore, other than an occasional appearance in a Champions Tour major. Don't expect that to change after this spectacular week.

"You have to keep working at it," said Norman, who will play the Senior British Open next week. "I'm not gonna stand here and say I'm going back and practicing more. It's not in my mind to do that."

Norman was the story of the first three rounds, but Harrington took over on the back nine Sunday. What made the win even more impressive is that it wasn't even a definite that Harrington was going to make it to the first tee Thursday.

Harrington was only 75 percent sure he would even defend his title. He hurt his right wrist working out, but the decision to play more than paid off for the Irishman.

"I didn't play too many practice rounds, so I was fresh for the weekend," said Harrington. "The wrist injury really was a great distraction. I have to find something every week to keep away expectations and outside stresses."

He joined Tiger Woods, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino and Arnold Palmer as the only players to repeat at the British Open in the last 50 years.

Amateur Chris Wood shot a two-over 72 on Sunday and shared fifth place with 2003 U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk, who managed a one-over 71. The pair came in at 10-over 290.

While many were waiting to see if Norman could make history, it was Harrington writing his own name in the record book.

Harrington played flawless golf on the back nine when the wind was at its peak. Gusts reached 40 miles per hour when the final pairing was on the back nine and Harrington thrived.

The Irishman was one behind Norman on the 10th tee, but "The Shark" bogeyed 10 after a poor drive. Norman missed a seven-footer for par at 12 and another poor drive cost him a stroke at 13.

Harrington was alone in the lead at plus-seven.

Poulter became a factor with an 18-foot birdie putt at the 16th to tie Harrington for the lead at plus-seven. After Norman bogeyed 13, Harrington drained a 12-footer for birdie at the same hole to move one ahead of Poulter.

At the 17th, Poulter reached the green in two, but three-putted for par. He missed an eight-footer that could have kept him tied at six-over, but he settled for a par and took his chances at 18.

Poulter's second came up well short at the closing hole and he chipped to 15 feet. He sank the clutch par save to stay one behind Harrington.

But the Irishman created space between himself and his English Ryder Cup teammate. Harrington birdied 15 to move two ahead, then hit the shot of the tournament.

Harrington played a five-wood to four feet to set up an eagle at the 17th. He ran that eagle putt home to take a four-shot lead with one to play.

At the closing hole, Harrington split the fairway again and hit his approach to seven feet. He missed the birdie putt, but it hardly mattered. He won the claret jug for a second time.

"I was making sure I made no mistakes," said Harrington, who defeated Sergio Garcia in a playoff last year at Carnoustie. "Until I got my tee shot away, I wasn't comfortable with a four-shot lead. Once the tee shot was away, I started to enjoy it."

Harrington might not have enjoyed certain points of the front nine.

He built a two-shot lead with six consecutive pars, the perfect start in these conditions. Norman bogeyed his first three holes to fall one back.

The roles reversed between the leaders, starting at the par-three seventh.

Harrington went long and left off the tee, while Norman hit the collar of the green with his tee ball. Harrington pitched to nine feet. Norman got up and down for par, while Harrington missed his putt to cut his margin to a stroke.

Harrington three-putted for a bogey from 40 feet at No. 8 and Norman narrowly missed a 25-foot birdie try. The two were tied at plus-six, then Harrington hit a terrible drive at the ninth.

Norman, who hit driver unnecessarily at times and paid a price for it, also hit a poor tee ball, but was able to get his second on to the putting surface.

Harrington could not get on, then pitched his third to 15 feet. He missed that putt and Norman sank a three-footer for par and found himself one ahead with nine to play.

Then Harrington played one of the best nines in recent major championship history to hoist the claret jug.

Ernie Els shot a one-under 69 on Sunday and tied for seventh place with David Howell (67), Robert Karlsson (69), Paul Casey (70), Stephen Ames (71), Steve Stricker (73), Robert Allenby (74), Anthony Kim (75) and 2003 winner Ben Curtis (75). The group came in at plus-12.

Phil Mickelson shot a one-over 71 in the final round and moved into a tie for 19th at 14-over 294.

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