Lee: I always felt Pádraig was special

UNDER normal circumstances, Albert Lee would have been across the Irish Sea in a flash to watch Pádraig Harrington defend his British Open title but, in the end, he decided he had no other option but to remain at home in Mullingar perched on his own couch.

The honorary secretary and former president of the Golfing Union of Ireland, Lee has known Harrington since the Dubliner was a 16-year-old competing in the Mullingar Scratch Cup at his home club.

Last year was the first time since 1999 that the Westmeath man didn’t make the short pilgrimage to the greatest tournament of them all and, with the way things turned out at Carnoustie, he felt obliged to retrace his steps this time.