Harrington returns to fray after father’s death

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON will return to action in this week’s Deutsche Bank tournament at Gut Kaden in Hamburg.

Harrington pulled out of the Open championship at St Andrews following the death of his father Patrick last week.

The world number eight won the title in Hamburg in 2003 and finished second to Trevor Immelman in Heidelberg last year.

Harrington will be joined in the field by Ryder Cup team-mate David Howell, who also had to withdraw from St Andrews due to a rib injury picked up during the US Open earlier this season.

Open contenders Jose Maria Olazabal, Retief Goosen and John Daly are also in action and have been promised they will find the course in its best shape ever.

In the winter of 2002 the greens suffered a severe attack of a disease called fusarium and with the tournament staged in May 2003, did not have time to recover.

As a result the greens were well below the European Tour standard but steps have been taken to improve the condition of the course and European Tour tournament director David Probyn feels the transformation has been exceptional.

Meanwhile, champions Ulster secured victory over Connacht by five matches to four on the opening day of the Golfsure Boys Interprovincial Championship at Dundalk Golf Club.

Trailing by two matches to one following the morning foursomes, early singles victories for Simon Doherty, Fergal Rafferty and Paul O’Kane put Ulster in control before Connacht clawed their way back into the tie with wins for Tommy McGowan and John McNicholas levelling the tie on four matches apiece.

Philip Graham secured the winning point for Ulster with a one hole victory over Shane Kelly.

Graham was four down at the turn but pegged Kelly back to level after 16 before holing a four-footer to win the 17th. The last was halved in pars.

Leinster won all nine matches to record a comfortable victory over Munster in the second tie.