The 137th Open Championship may have lacked the presence of injured Tiger Woods, but Padraig Harrington today revealed how he won back-to-back titles by playing golf the world No1's way.

Harrington credited a dramatic four-shot victory at Royal Birkdale on his decision to reduce his tournament schedule to the limited number of appearance that Woods makes, and on copying the American's commitment to physical fitness. Having outplayed Australian veteran Greg Norman and seen off a late challenge from Englishman Ian Poulter during the last round yesterday, Harrington explained how a gamble on structuring his game around quality rather than quantity finally paid off.

The 36-year-old Dubliner said: "I cut back on my schedule this year. It put me under pressure because I wasn't getting the wins, my world ranking was slipping and I started getting worried about making the Ryder Cup team.

"But what best reflects the confidence of a player is when he can sit it out and be patient and wait for his good weeks.

"Nobody does that better than Tiger, who plays less than 20 events a year - the fewer he plays, the better he gets. That is the big difference, being able to turn up expecting to have your form rather than turning up and just hoping you're going to hit it lucky."

Harrington is now assured of his place in Nick Faldo's team to defend the Ryder Cup against the United States in September, but he warned his sights are also set on adding to his two major titles. He said: "I've improved as a player, and I'm continuing to improve as a player. My goal is to keep getting into contention for majors. They are what it's all about for me now."

To that end Harrington has committed to a Woods-like regime of training and diet. He even has midnight sessions hitting balls on the floodlit practice hole built into the garden of his home in Ireland.

Harrington said: "The harder you work the more you're going to get out of this game. The key is I enjoy doing the practice and the work. Work has never been a chore for me.

"I also used to be a lot heavier than I am now. I would eat all the puddings and pies. But these are the sacrifices you've got to make. It all leads to winning Open trophies."

Harrington, having overcome a wrist injury that last week threatened his participation at Royal Birkdale, retained the Claret Jug with a stunning last round of one-under-par 69 for a tournament total of three-over-par 280 that Norman, the third-round leader, simply could not match.

Despite being cheered on by new wife Chris Evert, Norman, 53, could not come to terms with the winds and faded to share third place with Sweden's Henrik Stenson.