“I only played nine holes of practice and I’m sure that helped because it was a brutal four days. I felt fresh all week.”

Only six players since the war have managed to defend the Claret Jug – Tiger Woods, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Arnold Palmer, Peter Thompson and Bobby Locke – but Harrington can now add his name to that illustrious list. Scotsman James Braid was the last European to defend the title, remarkably as long ago as 1906 at Muirfield.

In blustery conditions, Harrington delivered a final round of 69 to take the £750,000 first prize. He said: “I have enjoyed being Open champion so much I didn’t want to give it up. A fan came up after I shot a double bogey and said, ‘Don’t worry about it, I’ve got to go back to the plumbing job on Monday’. I thought that said it all.

“I didn’t feel any pressure, even though at the start of this year I definitely targeted the four Majors and the Ryder Cup. I was in contention at Augusta and I wasn’t at all at the US Open. This time I’ve won and I reckon if you are in contention twice a year at the Majors that is pretty good for a mere mortal. I might be getting good at playing well on the big days.”

Norman, who came so close to creating golfing history of his own, said: “My wife Chris [Evert] has been my backbone all week and I owe it all to her. She has been incredibly strong for me.”