PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON believes a return to links golf in the Scottish Highlands this week will provide the ideal preparation for his bid to capture a third British Open in five years later this month.

THE bookmakers rate him 1,000/1 and even his most ardent supporters in Kerry and Cork could hardly quibble with that. But David Higgins is quietly confident that he can make an impression in this week’s Open Championship, his self-belief soaring last night after he had completed his first full practice round over the Turnberry links.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON has cruised into a six-stroke lead with 18 holes to go in the IPGA Championship at The European Club in Co Wicklow and is looking more and more the part, as he hones his game in good time for his defence of the Open Championship, at Royal Birkdale next week.

FOLLOWING consultation with David Probyn, tournament director of the PGA European Tour, Tom MacKenzie of the Donald Steel design team and local member Des Smyth, it has been agreed that the Baltray links will play to more than 7,050 yards with a par of 72 for next July’s Nissan Irish Open.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON will not be lining out in this week’s Smurfit Irish PGA Championship at Adare Manor.